Women’s IPL auction: Ashleigh Gardner wins amazing $558,000 contract for three weeks’ work

Aussie cricketer Ashleigh Gardner will pocket more in three weeks than what global soccer star Sam Kerr earns in a season after the first women’s IPL auction. See how her teammates fared.

Indigenous cricket superstar Ashleigh Gardner has sold for more than half a million dollars at the first ever WPL auction, in a momentous night for women’s sport.

Gardner has more than doubled her Cricket Australia earnings with her stunning $558,000 contract for three weeks’ work in the Indian Women’s Premier League.

It is a genuinely life changing moment for the 25-year-old from NSW, who watched it all unfold on an i-phone on the side of the field at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, as Australia’s women prepared for their next World Cup match in South Africa.

RELIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED BELOW

All-time great Ellyse Perry didn’t even watch her $295,000 pay day get announced, she was in the middle of a net session when the 32-year-old earned just reward for her contribution as one of women’s cricket’s most influential figures.

It was a huge moment for Gardner, with the financial rewards in women’s cricket still not massive compared to counterparts in the men’s game.

But in one drop of the hammer, Gardner becomes one of the most highest-profile — and highest paid — female athletes in Australia and indeed the world.

Gardner will earn more in three weeks than Matildas football superstar Sam Kerr ($435,000) is paid in the Women’s Super League in the UK.

“I’m excited to have been selected by the Giants in the inaugural Women’s IPL and look forward to joining the team next month,” Gardner said.

“For now my focus is on Australia at the Women’s T20 World Cup and our next game.”

Gardner was instantly inundated by messages, as her financial future changed forever.

Australia play Bangladesh in their second World Cup game in less than two days’ time, with a team full of players who have in many cases doubled their earnings.

Australia's Ashleigh Gardner now has a $558,000 contract for women’s IPL.

Reigning Belinda Clark medallist and Australian opener Beth Mooney was the next big money earner after Gardner, being sold for $349,000 also the Gujarat Giants team coached by Australian great Rachael Haynes.

Haynes stacked her side with Australian stars, with gun all-rounder Annabel Sutherland also signed to the franchise for $122,000 in the auction.

Tahlia McGrath – the all-round superstar from South Australia who some tipped to go No.1 – was snaffled by UP Warriorz for $244,000, while Aussie captain Meg Lanning was picked up for $191,000 by the Delhi Capitals.

Six months’ ago Lanning had stepped away from the game unsure if she would return to professional cricket.

Like Perry, Lanning deserves the financial recognition for growing the women’s game to the point it is now where players can finally cash in and earn big money.

In a surprise, Australia's superstar opener and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy only fetched $122,000.

Another player in that category is Alyssa Healy — who was sold to UP Warriorz for $122,000.

The Australian wicketkeeper and multiple World Cup winner has helped lift the women’s team to the profile of being one of the country’s most successful and popular.

It was heartbreak for Aussie stars Megan Schutt and Alana King who remarkably, both went unsold.

The dynamic of some players earning mega new deals and others missing out will be interesting for Australia and all teams to manage in this World Cup.

Women’s star Holly Ferling expressed the feelings of many around the women’s game on social media.

“So, FREAKING AWESOME. A massive day for women’s cricket and women’s sport, globally,” Wrote Ferling.

Young Aussie star Maitlan Brown reacted with “WOAHHHHHH” to Gardner’s $558,000 price.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said it was a historic night.

“What a game changer for the whole game.”

Elyse Perry (right) didn’t even watch her $295,000 pay day get announced, she was in the middle of a net session in South Africa.

9.27PM HOW THE AUSSIES HAVE FARED SO FAR

In case you missed it, life changing stuff at the inaugural WPL auction. Here’s how the Aussie girls have fared so far. Huge night for women’s sport. Ash Gardner watched herself sold to Gujarat Giants on the side of the field at Aussie World Cup training in Port Elizabeth. Ellyse Perry was having a net when she was sold for nearly $300,000 and had to be told of her pay day.

9.14PM AUSSIE CAPTAIN MEG LANNING SOLD TO DELHI CAPITALS

Australian captain Meg Lanning, took a break from cricket six months ago, unsure if she’d ever return to the game.

Now she has sold to the Delhi Capitals for a tidy $191,000. Not bad for three weeks work.

Like Ellyse Perry, Lanning deserves the recognition for all she’s done for women’s cricket.

Great role model and ambassador for the sport and superb cricketer.

9.03PM TAHLIA McGRATH SELLS TO UP WARRIORZ, BETH MOONEY TO GIANTS

Australian hard-hitting all-rounder Tahlia McGrath has sold for $244,000 to the UP Warriorz after an intense bidding war for her services.

Many tipped McGrath to potentially go No.1 but she has still picked up a massive pay day.

McGrath seemed destined to join Ash Gardner at the Giants, but the UP Warriorz came in late to clinch the South Australian.

Fellow Australian Beth Mooney also attracted plenty of interest as a wicket-keeper batter and will join Gardner at the Giants for A$349k.

Ash Gardner watches herself get auctioned off for A$558,000!

Ellyse Perry was - no surprises here - in the nets when she went under the hammer #T20WorldCup#WPLAuctionpic.twitter.com/ar3xhKGEB0

— Laura Jolly (@JollyLauz18) February 13, 2023

8.50PM AUSSIE GREAT SPLURGES BIG CASH ON GARDNER

The Gujarat Giants know exactly what they are doing paying $558,000 for Ash Gardner ... Australian great Rachael Haynes is their coach.

Gardner’s Sydney Sixers coach Charlotte Edwards tried desperately to get her girl to Mumbai, but Haynes wasn’t about to let Gardner slip.

Great drama in the auction room.

And guess what ... the Aussie girls weren’t watching! They’re currently finishing up a net session at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

Gardner has subsequently learnt of her historic price.

8.43PM GARDNER IN LIFE CHANGING MOMENT

Wow. Ashleigh Gardner has changed cricket history as the highest selling international so far in the inaugural WPL auction.

Gardner will earn over $500,000 for just over three weeks work in the Women’s Premier League in a game-changing moment for women’s sport.

The Indigenous superstar and Australian all-rounder instantly becomes one of the biggest names in global women’s sport.

Ellyse Perry sold for $295,000, just reward for her vital role in growing women’s cricket to what it is.

Perry has arguably been the most influential women’s cricketer of all time and even at 32 years of age and at the back end of her career she’s still landed a marquee pay day.

Gardner and Perry were the only two Australians read out in the marquee round.

Hayley Matthews goes unsold but that brings Ash Gardner forward to a massive bidding war.

Her Sixers coach Charlotte Edwards tries hard to get her to Mumbai, but Gujarat win it with a massive 3.2 crore (A$558,00) bid. #WPLAuction

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) February 13, 2023

8.29PM GARDNER GOES FOR $556,800

Australian superstar Ashleigh Gardner has been sold for about $556,800 in the inaugural Women’s IPL in a life-changing moment.

The Australian all-rounder watching in South Africa has been sold to Gujarat Giants for 3.2 crores, the highest price of the auction so far.

A bidding war between Mumbai, the Warriors and Giants resulted in Gardner being snaffled by the Giants.

She is now close to being a one million dollar cricketer.

Ellyse Perry was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for about AU$295,800.

8.20PM INDIAN SUPERSTAR GOES FOR $500,000

The WPL auction is off to a flying start with Indian star Smriti Mandhana going for about $593,000 after a bidding war between Mumbai and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

It’s an immediate sign of the life changing money on offer in this auction. Incredible.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur also goes for a huge price.

Smriti Mandhana is up first and absolutely no surprise, a massive bidding war begins between Mumbai and RCB.

Sells for 3.4 crore, about A$593,000, what a start!!#WPLAuction

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) February 13, 2023

Originally published as Women’s IPL auction: Ashleigh Gardner wins amazing $558,000 contract for three weeks’ work