Cricket Australia has announced the schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 Women's Big Bash League season. Although the WPL and The Hundred have grown rapidly, league officials are confident that WBBL is still the best women's T20 tournament in the world.

The new WBBL season starts from 29 October to the December 5. In the current tournament schedule, there are fewer morning games, fewer neutral venue games, but more games played on Friday-Sunday to enhance attendance and TV ratings.

With the WPL now in January and The Hundred spanning July and August, the WBBL has itself found a spot in the women's cricket calendar. As other competitive leagues across the globe are now able to pay more, Cricket Australia asserts that the standard of the WBBL will be maintained.

Big Bash Leagues executive general manager Alistair Dobson recognised that WPL and The Hundred had grown, but maintained that the WBBL remained the benchmark.

"We watch closely and work closely with both the Hundred and the WPL. Each bring different strengths. You can see that just the scale of the WPL in India, like cricket generally, is significant. I think from a WBBL perspective, it still prides itself on being the toughest comp with the best, the highest standard and really the place for players to test themselves."

He added:

"And then we love watching the Hundred and particularly what they've been able to do in some of the biggest stadiums in the UK. So I think each of the three leagues have a unique proposition. We still believe the WBBL is the best of all of them, but it's good to have competition. And I think we're in different windows, so there's less conflict or competition around [the] window."

The opening day this season will comprise a double-header between the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval; however, talks are still going on about the possible developments to the ownership and structure of the Melbourne franchises.

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There has been no final decision about what is happening to the Melbourne teams, Dobson said, despite Cricket Victoria's plans in the long term.

"First thing I'd say is nothing's certain, nothing's decided or definitive in terms of the future of those clubs or any of our clubs. A lot of work going on to establish the best model and set up for the Big Bash going forward."

Similarly, no big stadiums like MCG, SCG or Gabba will be used regularly in the WBBL. However, only the home game for Adelaide Strikers against Melbourne Renegades will be played at the Adelaide Oval on November 20.

With a clear window, altered timetable and belief in the excellence of its cricket, the WBBL is hopeful that it will continue to be the world's top women's T20 competition even as the WPL and The Hundred gain momentum and increasing financial muscle.