Varsity 2026: In Conversation with Women's Cricket

This is Varsity 2026.

We spoke to the University of Leeds Women’s Cricket team.

New beginnings

This year, the University of Leeds Women’s Cricket team are gearing up for their third ever Varsity match, and they’re buzzing with excitement. After winning last year’s head-to-head against Leeds Beckett, they’re heading into Varsity 2026 full of confidence. With a lot of new faces in the squad following the graduation of some of their more experienced players, they’re also curious and excited to see how this fresh team will perform.

Varsity feels completely different from a regular match. With bigger crowds and a real sense of occasion, the team say it’s a proper event they always look forward to.

Preparing for Varsity

The team are keen on making everyone feel welcome and part of the squad. They’ve recently set up a ‘development’ team so that new members can start playing cricket in a supportive environment. On top of that, there’s a huge focus on the team’s overall development and making sure everyone feels confident in their abilities.

Even though most of their matches happen in summer, the team trains all year round, including winter, because they feel it helps build both skills and team spirit. They’ve said there have been “a lot of improvements happening for the team” and they’re “very excited to start properly playing again.”

Their first official matches of the season will be in June and will feature three games. The team describe it as a “very exciting atmosphere” and a “great way to celebrate” the start of the season.