UP Warriorz Land Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 Crore, Welcome Back Grace Harris at WPL 2027 Auction

UP Warriorz were the busiest franchise in the room at the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini-auction in Kochi on Wednesday, and they made the biggest statement of the evening by signing Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore. The left-arm spinner, who entered the auction at a base price of ₹50 lakh, finished as the most expensive player of the night after a spirited bidding contest with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The Lucknow-based side also welcomed back a familiar face in Grace Harris, who returned to the franchise at her base price of ₹30 lakh. Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana, wicketkeeper Sushma Verma and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana were among the other additions as UP Warriorz completed eight signings to fill every vacant slot in their squad ahead of the fifth edition of the tournament.

A Tug-of-War With RCB Over Molineux

The first genuine bidding battle of the auction arrived shortly before 6 PM, when Molineux's name came up. RCB, the franchise she helped win the WPL title in 2024, made a strong push to bring her back. The defending champions kept raising their paddle and took the bid as high as ₹1.05 crore before UP Warriorz made the decisive offer of ₹1.10 crore.

The final price was more than double Molineux's base value, a clear sign of how highly the Warriorz rated her. The Australian had not been part of the 2026 season, which made her return to the league one of the most anticipated storylines heading into Kochi.

For UP Warriorz, the attraction was obvious. Molineux offers left-arm spin that can control the middle overs, while her batting gives the team another option in the top six. Her experience of winning a WPL title, along with her international pedigree, also adds leadership value to a squad that has been looking for consistency.

Molineux is currently preparing for the Women's Big Bash League with the Melbourne Renegades, which means the Warriorz will be able to keep a close eye on her form in the weeks leading up to the WPL.

Grace Harris Returns to Familiar Colours

Within minutes of the Molineux deal, UP Warriorz moved again, this time securing Grace Harris at her ₹30 lakh base price. The hard-hitting Australian spent the first three WPL seasons, from 2023 to 2025, with the Warriorz before moving to RCB for the 2026 campaign, when the Bengaluru side lifted the trophy.

Harris had been bought for ₹75 lakh by RCB last season, so her return to Lucknow came at well under half of that fee. It was one of the standout value signings of the auction. Harris brings explosive batting at the top or in the middle order and can also chip in with useful off-spin, giving the Warriorz flexibility in team selection.

Her history with the franchise is also significant. Harris played several match-winning knocks during her earlier stint with UP Warriorz and is well known to the team's fans. Her return gives the squad a proven performer who already understands the franchise's environment.

Indian Depth: Sneh Rana, Sushma Verma and Asha Sobhana

Alongside the overseas additions, UP Warriorz also focused on strengthening their Indian core. Experienced all-rounder Sneh Rana was signed at her base price of ₹30 lakh, considerably lower than the ₹50 lakh Delhi Capitals paid for her in 2026. Rana's off-spin and lower-order batting give the team another reliable option in both departments.

The Warriorz then addressed their wicketkeeping needs by bringing in Sushma Verma for ₹30 lakh. The India keeper returns to the league after a spell away and fills an important role behind the stumps, giving the side a specialist option for the coming season.

Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana also made her way back to the franchise later in the night. Sobhana had gone unsold when her name first came up, but UP Warriorz picked her up for ₹30 lakh when the unsold players were brought back. It was a far smaller amount than the ₹1.1 crore she had earned from the same franchise a year earlier.

With Rana, Sobhana and Molineux joining a squad that already features spinners such as Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone, UP Warriorz now possess one of the deepest spin attacks in the competition.

Late Additions Complete the Warriorz Squad

UP Warriorz rounded off their work during the accelerated round by picking up three more players at ₹10 lakh each. Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce was one of them, and as an Associate nation player she gives the team added flexibility with its overseas combinations. Indian all-rounders Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar were also signed to provide depth.

By the end of the evening, the Warriorz had made eight purchases for a total of ₹2.6 crore. They entered the auction with the largest purse among the five teams, around ₹3.75 crore, and finished with roughly ₹1.15 crore unspent. Their squad is now full at 18 players, including six overseas names.

The signings combine with a retained group that includes captain Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal, giving the franchise a balanced squad with cover across batting, bowling and wicketkeeping.

Delhi Capitals Win Race for Kiran Navgire

While UP Warriorz dominated the headlines, the other franchises made targeted moves of their own. Delhi Capitals produced the second-biggest purchase of the night by signing power-hitter Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh. Mumbai Indians also showed interest, but Delhi kept bidding to secure the batter, whose base price was ₹40 lakh.

Navgire had previously represented UP Warriorz, who released her ahead of the auction. Her arrival adds firepower to a Delhi line-up that already features Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt. Delhi also added Uma Kashvi, Scotland spinner Kirstie Gordon and Nazma Khan at ₹10 lakh each.

Gujarat Giants Snap Up G Kamalini

Gujarat Giants completed their requirements quickly and efficiently. They signed 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini at her base price of ₹40 lakh without facing any competition. Kamalini, who was with Mumbai Indians last season, has impressed for India A and Tamil Nadu and now has a fresh opportunity to establish herself in the WPL.

The Giants also signed Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh, handing her a first WPL contract. Sixteen-year-old Samaira Raghav, one of four players added to the auction pool on the eve of the event, was picked up for ₹10 lakh to complete Gujarat's squad of 18.

RCB and Mumbai Indians Focus on Depth

Defending champions RCB had a quiet start and did not make a purchase for more than two hours. Their first buy finally arrived in the accelerated round, when they signed Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen at her base price of ₹40 lakh. Jonassen had played the first three WPL seasons for Delhi Capitals.

RCB later added South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon and Maharashtra batter Tejal Hasabnis for ₹30 lakh each, along with Vrinda Dinesh for ₹10 lakh. Hasabnis had initially gone unsold before being picked up when the unsold names returned.

Mumbai Indians used their limited purse to fill six Indian slots. Shweta Sehrawat was their most expensive signing at ₹20 lakh, double her base price, after Delhi Capitals also bid for her. Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Under-19 World Cup winner Saanika Chalke and Akshita Bhagat were all added for ₹10 lakh each.

Big Names Who Went Unsold

The auction also produced several surprises. England batter Sophia Dunkley, one of only two players in the highest ₹50 lakh base price bracket, did not receive a single bid. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, one of the most destructive openers in the women's game, also went unsold.

Indian wicketkeepers Uma Chetry, Taniyaa Bhatia and Nuzhat Parween failed to find buyers, as did young batter Raghvi Bist. Overseas pacers Tayla Vlaeminck and Rosemary Mair were overlooked, while Devika Vaidya, once a ₹1.4 crore signing at the inaugural auction, also went unsold.

The limited number of slots and modest purses forced franchises to focus on specific needs rather than chase big names, which explained why several established players were left without contracts.

The Auction in Numbers

The five franchises entered the auction with a combined purse of ₹8.15 crore and 27 vacancies to fill. The original shortlist of 146 players grew to 150 after four late additions. By the end of the evening, 25 players had been sold for a total of ₹6.25 crore, while 47 went unsold.

• Most expensive player: Sophie Molineux – ₹1.10 crore (UP Warriorz)
• Most expensive Indian player: Kiran Navgire – ₹75 lakh (Delhi Capitals)
• Most active franchise: UP Warriorz – 8 players for ₹2.6 crore
• Players sold: 25
• Players unsold: 47

Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz all finished with full squads of 18, while Delhi Capitals and RCB ended with 17 players and only ₹5 lakh each remaining.

What Comes Next

The fifth season of the WPL is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. With squads now almost finalised, franchises will turn their attention to building combinations and preparing for the tournament.

For UP Warriorz, the challenge will be turning a well-planned auction into results on the field. The arrival of Molineux, the return of Harris and the added Indian depth have given the side greater balance than it had a year ago. Whether that translates into a first WPL title will become clear in January.