The year 2025 witnessed India's rapid advancement in building a global women's cricket dynasty, culminating in Harmanpreet Kaur's team's joyous celebration at the DY Patil Stadium after their World Cup win. However, the year's highlight was the final, which was the only Test match of the year, the Ashes affair at Melbourne. The Spin's team of the year is cross-format, with substantial weight given to performances at crunch moments in the World Cup. Here's a list of the players who made a significant impact in the year:
Smriti Mandhana (India): Mandhana's teammates berated her for never scoring a Twenty20 hundred, but she responded by achieving the milestone in 51 balls at Trent Bridge. She had the most prolific year of any female cricketer in history, scoring 1,362 ODI runs and 17 international hundreds across all formats.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) - Captain: Wolvaardt led her team from the doldrums to convincing them of their potential as tournament winners. She batted her heart out with back-to-back hundreds in the semi-final and final.
Jemimah Rodrigues (India): Rodrigues bookended 2025 with two hundreds and battled uncertainty and self-doubt. She played one of the all-time great innings in the tournament semi-final, shepherding an exhausting run chase.
Beth Mooney (Australia) - Wicketkeeper: Mooney showed the difference between the two teams with her unbeaten 94 in the Adelaide T20 and seamless wicketkeeping.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (England): Sciver-Brunt took on the England captaincy, attempting to pick up the pieces of the Ashes debacle while continuing to be England's best batter.
Ash Gardner (Australia): Gardner hadn't struck a hundred in 175 internationals for Australia, but she found a new role, batting long and scoring crucial hundreds in the World Cup.
Deepti Sharma (India): Sharma was the tournament MVP and leading wicket-taker, claiming 22 scalps. She also stepped up her batting, scoring three half-centuries in the World Cup.
Annabel Sutherland (Australia): Sutherland earned the player of the match award with her 163 runs in the year's single Test. She took 17 wickets during the World Cup with her variations.
Sophie Ecclestone (England): Ecclestone had a challenging year, but her bowling continued to shine with 42 wickets for England in 2025, including 16 in the World Cup.
Alana King (Australia): King started the year tormenting England and ended it with one of the best spells of bowling ever seen in a World Cup, finishing with seven for 18 against South Africa.
Marufa Akter (Bangladesh): Akter had limited opportunities, but she had a breakthrough year with her fast bowling, showcasing her hooping in-swing on the global stage.
