London, March 12 -- New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine and Australian wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney emerged as the biggest winners in the inaugural auction of The Hundred women's competition, each securing a record £210,000 contract ahead of the 2026 season.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Sophie Devine was picked by Welsh Fire, while Mooney attracted a bidding battle before being signed by Trent Rockets, underlining the rising financial scale of the tournament. Their deals are significantly higher than the previous top salary in the women's Hundred, which stood at £65,000, and far above the £15,000 maximum salary offered in the competition's inaugural edition in 2021.

One of the most surprising moments of the auction saw...