The Women’s Premier League is rapidly transforming into one of the most thrilling cricket competitions globally. Ever since its inception in 2023, the WPL teams have enthralled millions of cricket fans in India and even overseas. Supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), this franchise based Twenty20 event has provided women’s cricket with a fantastic platform, and the five WPL teams that really make the competition are the ones that keep leading its growth year by year.
Whether you are a passionate cricket enthusiast or someone who is just getting to know the league, learning about each WPL team, its character, the qualities of the team, the composition of the squad, and the legacy assists you in recognizing the journey that women’s cricket has made in India.
How Many Teams Are in the WPL?
Right now, there are five franchises in the Women’s Premier League. In the WPL, all the five teams play each other twice during the double round robin league phase. The top three teams in the points table qualify for the playoffs. The team that finishes first in the group stage goes directly to the final, while the teams finishing second and third play against each other in the Eliminator match.
The five WPL teams that have been around since the starting of the league are:
- Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W)
- Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W)
- Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W)
- UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W)
Mumbai Indians Women
When we discuss WPL teams based on trophies only, Mumbai Indians Women is ranked numero uno together with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Mumbai Indians women team led by the star Harmanpreet Kaur has always given a potent combination of the Indian domestic players alongside the world class international counterparts. Also, in the 2025 season, the highlight of the team was England’s Nat Sciver Brunt as she finished as the highest run scorer with 523 runs and also took 18 wickets; these superb performances helped her to bag the Player of the Tournament award. Besides this, another Mumbai Indians bowler, Amelia Kerr is the one who took 18 wickets as well in the same edition which shows the level of talent and balance of this WPL team. The Mumbai Indians held their WPL final matches in the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai and on both occasions, they emerged as the winners.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Amongst the squads of the Women’s Premier League, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women have Clearly excited more fans than most. Led by Smriti Mandhana, whose batting skills both have brought her worldwide fame and have made her the role model for an entire generation of young cricketers, RCB W clinched their first WPL championship in 2024 and went on to regain the trophy in 2026.
In the 2026 WPL season, RCB emerged victorious against Delhi Capitals, winning the final game by six wickets at BCA Stadium Vadodara Because of this sealing the title in the most spectacular manner. Smriti Mandhana followed up on her season’s stellar performance by becoming the highest run scorer with 377 runs. Not only that, in the final, Mandhana and Georgia Voll gave cricket fans a thrilling partnership of 165 runs in just 92 balls, which happens to be the highest partnership in the history of WPL, leading to a successful chase of the target of 204.
Alongside high profile and well established cricketers such as Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh Thakur and Georgia Wareham, RCB W is Clearly one of the most internationally stocked teams of the WPL competition.
Delhi Capitals Women
In any talk about WPL teams, Delhi Capitals Women simply cannot be left out. Statistically, they have been the most consistent team among the four WPL seasons, making it to the final match every single time since the league was started. But surprisingly, they have never managed to win the championship; they have been the runner up in 2023 2024 2025, and 2026.
This level of consistent high performance without the final triumph has, in fact, turned Delhi Capitals into possibly the most exciting and engaging WPL team story of all. The DC squad, under the fearless Jemimah Rodrigues, put up a challenging 203/4 in the 2026 WPL final a score that might have easily resulted in victory in most games. Besides, Nandani Sharma took as many as 17 wickets in the 2026 season, a tally that is among the highest in the tournament.
The Delhi Capitals’ regular feature in the final stages of the competition is a testament that this WPL outfit holds both the raw talent and the squad depth that can help them achieve the ultimate success. The build up to a first championship title is simply increasing the storyline and fan favorite status around their franchise.
Gujarat Giants Women
Gujarat Giants Women were one of the least favorite sides to win the title during their first season in WPL. Still, they have gradually developed to a point where they can be considered a real threat among five WPA teams. After the fifth place finish in 2023 and 2024, the Giants managed to reach the semis in 2025 and kept the third spot in 2026 as well.
This year, their progress has been remarkable. Soph Devine was the leading all rounder for the Giants in WPL 2026, and her performances helped her in winning the Player of the Series award, a wonderful personal success that coincided with the team’s overall development. As a result, the Giants of Gujarat are evolving into formidable challengers in upcoming campaigns as they are continuously enhancing their squad depth and tactical face.
UP Warriorz Women
Uniquely, UP Warriorz is the only WPL side that does not have a direct IPL franchise associate and Because of this, they are a standalone brand within the league. The Warriors, while still not having done so formally, have set the bar with a first ever Super Over in the 2025 season where they bested Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thriller.
The Warriors have been the pursuing camp for some of cricket’s biggest names, and have shown that on their day they can give any one of the five WPL teams a run for their money. With the competition growing up and the auctions being tightly planned, UP Warriorz will be aiming to crack the upper echelons and seriously vie for the crown.
WPL Teams
Watching how teams assemble their players via auctions is one of the most intriguing things about following WPL teams. The league operates an auction based model on the lines of the IPL, whereby franchises bid for Indian domestic players, capped internationals, and foreign stars.
At the 2026 mega auction that took place in November 2025, 67 players out of 277 who were bidded were sold, with the overall franchise expenditure going up to around 40. 8 crore. Besides signing Indian players, each team has the liberty of having up to six foreign players in their squad. Deepti Sharma, Amelia Kerr, and Sophie Devine, among others, fetched hefty bids as they are major attractions in the tournament that has gained global attention in an incredibly short period of time.
WPL payscale, player retention, and RTM (Right to Match) cards are some aspects that the WPL teams use to strategize how to build their team compositions. A cleverly executed auction has the power to turn a franchise’s luck for the whole season.
WPL Teams Championship History at a Glance
| Season | Champion | Runner-Up |
| 2023 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals |
| 2024 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Capitals |
| 2025 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Capitals |
Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have each won two WPL titles. Delhi Capitals have reached all four finals without lifting the trophy, while Gujarat Giants and UP Warriors are still awaiting their first final appearances.
Why WPL Teams Matter Beyond Cricket?
WPL teams have significance far beyond the boundary ropes. Each franchise is the avenue for young Indian women cricketers a professional platform, competitive exposure, and financial recognition which were not available a decade ago. Besides domestic cricket, nothing can match the development that happens when at high pressure T20 games young players are playing with international superstars.
WPL also brought a new rush to media attention, sponsorship money, and fan engagement to women’s cricket at a scale India had never witnessed before. Each WPL team is a part of that bigger mission demonstrating that women’s cricket deserves the same spotlight, investment, and passion as any other format of the game.
Final Thoughts
The five teams of WPL Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriors each have their unique stories, philosophies of the squad, and the desire to dominate one of the fastest growing sports events in cricket. It is Yes exciting that Royal Challengers Bengaluru who is currently the WPL 2026 champion, and the rivalry between the teams getting intense every year will make the next season more entertaining.
Even if you are only keeping track of squad announcements, auction buzz or are just watching the games, the best way to keep yourself connected with the future of women’s cricket in India is by watching all five WPL teams.
Read more : Indian Women Cricket Team Captain List | India Women Players
