Southern Brave Women Blend Proven Class With the Next Wave | Southern Brave News

Southern Brave’s women’s squad for 2026 has the feel of a group built for both the present and the future.

There is a strong retained core, world-class overseas quality and a group of younger players ready to make their mark. In The Hundred, where momentum can swing in a handful of balls, that mix gives the Brave options.

Lauren Bell and Maia Bouchier return as key retained players. Both know what it means to play for Southern Brave and both bring qualities that matter in this format. Bell offers pace, bounce and new-ball threat. Bouchier brings intent, experience and the ability to set the tone with the bat.

Laura Wolvaardt also remains part of the Brave setup as an overseas player. Her quality at the top of the order gives Southern Brave one of the most composed and technically strong batters in the women’s game.

Jemimah Rodrigues arrives as a major direct signing, strengthening the batting group further. She brings international experience, energy and the ability to move through gears, a valuable trait in a format where tempo is everything.

The auction then gave the Brave a stronger all-round shape.

Issy Wong was the top signing at £130k, adding pace, aggression and wicket-taking threat. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, secured for £105k, brings exciting young spin talent. Sarah Glenn joins for £75k, giving the squad proven leg-spin quality and international experience.

Sophie Molineux, signed as an overseas all-rounder for £47.5k, adds balance with bat and ball. Jodi Grewcock, Lizelle Lee, Bex Odgers, Phoebe Franklin, Daisy Gibb and Ellie Anderson complete the squad, giving the coaching team depth across departments.

The Brave have built a group with different layers.

Bell and Bouchier bring continuity. Wolvaardt, Rodrigues, Glenn, Molineux and Lee bring international class. Wong adds edge with the ball. Corteen-Coleman and the younger players bring freshness and upside.

That blend will be important for Head Coach Jonathan Batty and Assistant Coach Anya Shrubsole. Their job will be to bring clarity to the roles, create confidence in the group and help the squad play with purpose from the first game.

The Hundred is no place for hesitation. Teams need batters who can control tempo, bowlers who can handle pressure and fielders who can save moments that change matches. Southern Brave’s squad has been built with that variety in mind.

For the Brave family, this is a team with familiar names and new energy. It has players supporters already know, players they will be excited to watch and players who could become central to the club’s future.

The squad has balance. It has quality. Most importantly, it has room to grow.