ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
The biggest tournament in women's cricket.
- First held 1973
- 13 editions
- Reigning: India
- Every four years
Overview
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup is the quadrennial One Day International championship for women's national teams, first held in England in 1973, two years before the men's tournament. Australia have won a record seven titles, and India won their first in 2025 by beating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
The first women's World Cup was held in England in June and July 1973, two years before the first men's tournament, after talks led by Jack Hayward from 1971. Seven teams took part: Australia, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Young England and an International XI, and England won on points. South Africa were not invited because of apartheid, and funding difficulties in the early years meant some teams declined invitations and left gaps of up to six years between tournaments.
Australia won in 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013 and 2022, while England won in 1973, 1993, 2009 and 2017. New Zealand's only title came in 2000, when they beat Australia by four runs at Lincoln. The tournament was run by the International Women's Cricket Council until 2005, when it merged with the ICC, and since then World Cups have been held at regular four-year intervals.
The 2025 World Cup was held from 30 September to 2 November in India and Sri Lanka, with all of Pakistan's matches moved to Sri Lanka under an agreement between the BCCI and PCB. India knocked out defending champions Australia in the semi-final and beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, to win their maiden title. The ICC has decided to expand the tournament to ten teams from 2029.
How it works
The 2025 Women's World Cup was played over 50 overs per side by eight teams in a single round-robin league, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals and the winners meeting in the final, 31 matches in all. Since 2000 the field has been fixed at eight teams, and qualification is through the ICC Women's Championship and the Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The tournament will expand to ten teams from the 2029 edition.
Who has won it most?
Titles won by each team across all 13 editions.
Winners by year
Newest first.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | India | South Africa | India, Sri Lanka | India won by 52 runsPlayer of the tournament: Deepti SharmaIndia 298/7 (50 ov); South Africa 246 (45.3 ov). Winning captain: Harmanpreet Kaur. Player of the final: Shafali Verma (87 and 2/36). Deepti Sharma scored 215 runs and took 22 wickets. India's first title (30 September - 2 November 2025). |
| 2022 | Australia | England | New Zealand | Australia won by 71 runsPlayer of the tournament: Alyssa HealyAustralia 356/5 (50 ov); England 285 (43.4 ov). Winning captain: Meg Lanning. Player of the final: Alyssa Healy (170). Healy scored 509 runs in the tournament. |
| 2017 | England | India | England | England won by 9 runsPlayer of the tournament: Tammy BeaumontEngland 228/7 (50 ov); India 219 (48.4 ov). Winning captain: Heather Knight. Player of the final: Anya Shrubsole (6/46). Beaumont scored 410 runs. |
| 2013 | Australia | West Indies | India | Australia won by 114 runsPlayer of the tournament: Suzie BatesAustralia 259/7 (50 ov); West Indies 145 (43.1 ov). Winning captain: Jodie Fields. Player of the final: Jess Cameron (75). Bates (New Zealand) scored 407 runs. |
| 2009 | England | New Zealand | Australia | England won by 4 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Claire TaylorNew Zealand 166 (47.2 ov); England 167/6 (46.1 ov). Winning captain: Charlotte Edwards. Player of the final: Nicky Shaw (4/34). |
| 2005 | Australia | India | South Africa | Australia won by 98 runsPlayer of the tournament: Karen RoltonAustralia 215/4 (50 ov); India 117 (46 ov). Winning captain: Belinda Clark. Player of the final: Karen Rolton (107*). |
| 2000 | New Zealand | Australia | New Zealand | New Zealand won by 4 runsPlayer of the tournament: Lisa KeightleyNew Zealand 184 (48.4 ov); Australia 180 (49.1 ov). Winning captain: Emily Drumm. Player of the final: Belinda Clark (91, Australia). Keightley scored 375 runs. |
| 1997 | Australia | New Zealand | India | Australia won by 5 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Debbie Hockley (final)New Zealand 164 (49.3 ov); Australia 165/5 (47.4 ov). Winning captain: Belinda Clark. Player of the final: Debbie Hockley (79, New Zealand). |
| 1993 | England | New Zealand | England | England won by 67 runsPlayer of the tournament: Jo Chamberlain (final)England 195/5 (60 ov); New Zealand 128 (55.1 ov). Winning captain: Karen Smithies. Player of the final: Jo Chamberlain (38 and 1/28). |
| 1988 | Australia | England | Australia | Australia won by 8 wicketsPlayer of the tournament: Carole HodgesEngland 127/7 (60 ov); Australia 129/2 (44.5 ov). Winning captain: Sharon Tredrea. Hodges (England) scored 336 runs and took 12 wickets. |
| 1982 | Australia | England | New Zealand | Australia won by 3 wicketsEngland 151/5 (60 ov); Australia 152/7 (59 ov). Winning captain: Sharon Tredrea. No player-of-the-tournament award is listed. |
| 1978 | Australia | England | India | Australia won on points (league format, no final): Australia 6 points, England 4Four teams. Winning captain: Margaret Jennings. No player-of-the-tournament award is listed. |
| 1973 | England | Australia | England | England won on points (league format, no final): England 20 points, Australia 17Seven teams. Winning captain: Rachael Heyhoe Flint. No player-of-the-tournament award is listed. |
Records & facts
- Most titles
- Australia (7)
- Most runs in World Cups
- Debbie Hockley, New Zealand (1,501, 1982-2000)
- Most runs in a tournament
- Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa (571, 2025)
- Highest individual score
- Belinda Clark, Australia (229* v Denmark, 1997)
- Highest batting average (min. 10 innings)
- Karen Rolton, Australia (74.92, 1997-2009)
- Highest partnership
- Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor, England (275 v South Africa, 2017)
- Most wickets in World Cups
- Marizanne Kapp, South Africa (44, 2009-2025)
- Best bowling figures
- Alana King, Australia (7/18 v South Africa, 2025)
- Most wickets in a tournament
- Lyn Fullston, Australia (23, 1982)
- Highest team total
- Australia (412/3 v Denmark, 1997)
- Lowest team total
- Pakistan (27 v Australia, 1997)
- Most dismissals by a wicket-keeper
- Jane Smit, England (40, 1993-2005)
Latest Women's Cricket World Cup news
Every Women's Cricket World Cup winner since 1973
Australia have won seven Women's Cricket World Cups, England four, and New Zealand and India one each. Here is every edition from 1973 to 2025.
India beat South Africa to win the Women's World Cup for the first time
India won their maiden Women's Cricket World Cup by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai on 2 November 2025, after final defeats in 2005 and 2017.
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