The Melbourne Renegades is an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in Melbourne, Victoria. They are one of two teams from Melbourne to compete in the Women's Big Bash League, the other being the Melbourne Stars.
On 2 June 2026, it was reported that the brands of the Renegades and the Melbourne Stars would be merged into a new franchise, utilising the Stars' existing WBBL license. Nick Cummins, the CEO of Cricket Victoria (CV), has described the new team as "just a merger of brands and staff" and "not a merger of the teams". Two weeks later, it was confirmed that both the Renegades and the Stars would compete in the upcoming 2026–27 season under their existing names.
History Formation One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Melbourne Renegades are aligned with the men's team of the same name. On 3 June 2015, Cricket Victoria announced Lachlan Stevens would "take charge of one of Melbourne's two WBBL teams". Stevens would be confirmed as inaugural head coach of the Renegades in the following months. At the official WBBL launch on 10 July, Sarah Elliott was unveiled as the team's first ever signing. Elliott would also become the inaugural captain.
The Renegades played their first match against the Hobart Hurricanes at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on 11 December, losing by 35 runs. It took until their fifth match, a 20 December encounter with the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, to register a win.
Rivalries Sydney Sixers The Renegades and Sydney Sixers have combined to produce some of the most "thrilling" and "controversial" matches in the league's history, particularly revolving around close finishes, including: 3 January 2018, GMHBA Stadium: In "bizarre" scenes, Sixers batter Sarah Aley attempted to score a game-tying run on the last delivery despite Renegades wicket-keeper Emma Inglis, having received the ball over the stumps from fielder Kris Britt and thus believing the match to be over, already celebrating victory. After deliberation, officiating umpires deemed the ball was not dead and the run would be allowed, thereby forcing a super over which the Renegades nevertheless went on to win. 19 January 2019, Drummoyne Oval: In the Renegades' first finals appearance, with three runs required off the last ball for an upset victory, Sophie Molineux was short of her ground attempting the winning run due to a "miracle" piece of team fielding by Sixers players Erin Burns, Sarah Aley and Alyssa Healy. In the resulting super over, Sixers captain Ellyse Perry hit a six off Molly Strano to eliminate the Renegades from the tournament. The match, in conjunction with the other semi-final played earlier in the day, was hailed as a showcase of "the irrefutable rise of women's cricket" and "sport with drama, skill and unpredictability – a potent recipe for success". 17 November 2019, Drummoyne Oval: The Renegades, requiring 28 runs off the last 12 balls with only three wickets in hand, pulled off a "great escape" victory against the Sixers through a last-ball six from Courtney Webb against the bowling of Marizanne Kapp. It marked the first time a WBBL team had won a match when needing more than four runs off the final legal delivery. The ramifications of the result were season-shaping as the Renegades went on to edge out the Sixers for fourth spot on the ladder, making it the first season the Sixers would fail to qualify for finals.
Melbourne Stars The Renegades hold an 8–4 record over their cross-town rivals, the Melbourne Stars. Noteworthy matches include: 1 January 2017, Melbourne Cricket Ground: Played in front of a reported crowd of 24,547—as part of a double-header with the men's BBL, setting a new record for the highest non-standalone WBBL attendance—the rain-affected match ended in anticlimactic fashion with the Renegades adjudged nine-wicket winners via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method. Stars captain Meg Lanning initially protested the ruling with officiating umpires, claiming she had been given false information about the par score by the match referee. 20 January 2018, Melbourne Cricket Ground: Chasing 119 for victory, Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite—who looked to have been run out earlier in the innings and left the field, but was recalled after TV replays showed wicket-keeper Nicole Faltum had dislodged the bails prematurely—hit a six off the final delivery against the bowling of Georgia Elwiss to tie the game. With scores still level after the super over, the Stars were awarded the win on the boundary count back rule. 29 December 2018, Docklands Stadium: The Renegades recorded the second one-wicket victory in the league's history when Lea Tahuhu, a fast bowler not known for her batting ability, hit the winning single off Stars captain Kristen Beams with just one ball to spare. Courtney Webb, on 21 not out, was the set batter at the non-striker's end.
Brisbane Heat Despite winning multiple championships in the league's early years, the Brisbane Heat have relatively struggled against the Renegades. Across the competition's first five seasons, the Renegades were the only team to beat the Heat more often than not. Noteworthy matches include: 23 December 2017, Docklands Stadium: Batting first, the Heat were bowled out for 66, equalling the WBBL record for lowest all out total. The Renegades chased the target down with ten wickets in hand and 55 balls remaining, also setting a new WBBL record for largest victory by a team batting second. 27 November 2019, Allan Border Field: Targeting 184 runs to win, the Renegades set a new WBBL record for highest successful chase by sealing victory with six wickets in hand and six balls remaining. 7 December 2019, Allan Border Field: The Heat, on their way to a second consecutive title, chased down the Renegades' total of 4/163 with four wickets and 12 balls to spare in the first-ever semi-final encounter between the two teams. Wicket-keeper Josie Dooley, having won a championship with Brisbane in the previous season, top-scored for the Renegades with 50 not out.
Captaincy records
There have been nine captains in the Renegades' history, including matches featuring an acting captain.
CaptainSpanWonLostTiedSarah Elliott2015–1610370030.00Molly Strano2016–192110050.00Rachel Priest2016–17166100037.50Kris Britt201611000100.00Amy Satterthwaite2017–204317230342.50Jess Duffin201914770050.00Sophie Molineux2021–254018190348.65Hayley Matthews2022–24207130035Georgia Wareham20254220050 Source:
Season summaries
SeasonFinalsCoachCaptainMost RunsMost WicketsRefs8thDNQSarah ElliottDane van Niekerk – 275Molly Strano – 18Molly Strano2016–176–87thDNQLachlan StevensRachel PriestKris Britt – 290Molly Strano – 21Molly Strano2017–186–86thDNQTim CoyleLea Tahuhu – 172018–197–64thSFTim CoyleAmy SatterthwaiteDanni Wyatt – 368Molly Strano – 19Sophie Molineux8–64thSFTim CoyleJess DuffinJess Duffin – 544Jess Duffin4–87thDNQLachlan StevensAmy SatterthwaiteLizelle Lee – 261Carly Leeson and Sophie Molineux – 11Courtney Webb8–42ndCFSimon HelmotSophie Molineux20224–97thDNQSimon HelmotHayley Matthews – 253Shabnim Ismail and Sophie Molineux – 11Sophie Molineux20232–128thDNQSimon HelmotHayley MatthewsHarmanpreet Kaur – 321Hayley Matthews and Georgia Wareham - 14Georgia Wareham20247–31stCSimon HelmotHayley Matthews – 324Sophie Molineux – 16Sophie Molineux20255–55thDNQSimon HelmotSophie MolineuxGeorgia Wareham – 277Georgia Wareham*
Legend DNQ Did not qualify SF Semi-finalists * Led the league EF Lost the Eliminator RU Runners-up ^ League record KF Lost the Knockout CF Lost the Challenger C Champions
Home grounds VenueGames hosted by season01 02 03 04 05 0607 08091011 TotalCamberwell Sports Ground – 2 4 – – N/A – – – – 6Docklands Stadium 1 2 1 1 – – – – – 5 CitiPower Centre 2 – – 3 5 2 7 4 4 27Eastern Oval – – – 1 1 2 – – – 4Geelong Cricket Ground – – – 1 – – – – – 1Kardinia Park – – 1 2 – – – – – 3Melbourne Cricket Ground – – – – – – – 1 – 1Queen Elizabeth Oval – 2 – – – – – – – 2Ted Summerton Reserve – – – – – 1 – – – 1
Current squad The squad of the Melbourne Renegades for the 2026 Women's Big Bash League season as of 24 September 2026. Players with international caps are listed in bold.
NameDate of birthBatting StyleBowling StyleAdditional Info.Batters11Courtney WebbRight-handedRight-arm mediumAll-rounders5Deandra DottinRight-handedRight-arm mediumInternational Signing25Tess FlintoffRight-handedRight-arm medium50Hayley MatthewsRight-handedRight-arm off spinInternational Signing23Sophie MolineuxLeft-handedLeft-arm orthodoxCaptain32Georgia WarehamRight-handedRight-arm leg spinWicket-keeper4Nicole FaltumRight-handedBowlers51Milly IllingworthRight-handedRight-arm fast22Sara KennedyRight-handedLeft-arm medium30Tayla VlaeminckRight-handedRight-arm fast
Players
Australian representatives The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Renegades after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Renegades squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):
Overseas marquees The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Renegades as overseas marquees:
Associate rookies
Administration and support staff Current staff
PositionNamerefHead coachGavan Twining
Managerial history +NameSeasons Simon Helmot2021–2025
Honours
Champions: 1 – WBBL10 Runners-Up: 0 Minor Premiers: 1 – WBBL10 Finals Series Appearances: 4 – WBBL04, WBBL05, WBBL07, WBBL10 Wooden Spoons: 2 – WBBL01, WBBL09
Statistics and awards
Team Stats Win–loss record: OppositionWonLostTiedAdelaide Strikers2211100152.38Brisbane Heat2210110147.62Hobart Hurricanes207130035Melbourne Stars221190255Perth Scorchers226150128.57Sydney Sixers217130135Sydney Thunder2110110047.62Total15062820643.06
Highest score in an innings: 4/207 (20 overs) vs Brisbane Heat, 6 November 2021 Highest successful chase: 1/186 (19 overs) vs Adelaide Strikers, 11 November 2024 Lowest successful defence: 110 (20 overs) vs Sydney Thunder, 7 November 2020 Largest victory: Batting first: 81 runs vs Adelaide Strikers, 23 October 2023 Batting second: 55 balls remaining vs Brisbane Heat, 23 December 2017 Longest winning streak: 8 matches (9 November 2024 – 11 November 2025) Longest losing streak: 8 matches (26 October – 12 November 2023)
Source:
Individual Stats Most runs: Sophie Molineux – 1,742 Highest score in an innings: Danni Wyatt-Hodge – 87 (55) vs Brisbane Heat, 27 November 2019 Highest partnership: Sophie Molineux and Emma Inglis – 102* vs Hobart Hurricanes, 14 January 2018 Most wickets: Molly Strano – 104 Best bowling figures in an innings: Molly Strano – 5/15 (4 overs) vs Melbourne Stars, 2 January 2016
Most catches (fielder): Georgia Wareham – 45 Most dismissals (wicket-keeper): Josie Dooley – 41 (28 catches, 13 stumpings)
Source:
Individual Awards Player of the Match: Sophie Molineux – 13 Danni Wyatt-Hodge – 6 Amy Satterthwaite and Georgia Wareham – 5 Jess Duffin, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, and Molly Strano – 4 Rachel Priest – 3 Courtney Webb – 2 Charis Bekker, Maitlan Brown, Alice Capsey, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum, Grace Harris, Erica Kershaw, Anna Lanning, Lizelle Lee, Carly Leeson, Georgia Prestwidge, and Jemimah Rodrigues – 1 WBBL Player of the Tournament: Amy Satterthwaite – WBBL03 Harmanpreet Kaur – WBBL07 Georgia Wareham – WBBL11 WBBL Player of the Final: Hayley Matthews – WBBL10 WBBL Team of the Tournament: Molly Strano (3) – WBBL02, WBBL04, WBBL05 Sophie Molineux (2) – WBBL|04, WBBL10 Georgia Wareham (2) – WBBL|10, WBBL11 Amy Satterthwaite – WBBL03 Lea Tahuhu – WBBL|03 Jess Duffin – WBBL|05 Danni Wyatt-Hodge – WBBL|05 Harmanpreet Kaur – WBBL07 Hayley Matthews – WBBL|10 WBBL Young Gun Award: Sophie Molineux – WBBL03 Georgia Wareham – WBBL04
Sponsors