The Proteas Women’s captain’s consistency shines as she earns her second ICC Player of the Month award following standout performances in December.
South Africa (16 January 2026) – South Africa’s women’s cricket captain continues to raise the bar, and December proved to be another statement month for Laura Wolvaardt. The Proteas opener has been recognised as the ICC Women’s Player of the Month after playing a leading role in South Africa’s dominant performances against Ireland.
Laura was at the heart of the Proteas’ success across both white-ball formats. She anchored the batting line-up as South Africa secured convincing series victories in the T20Is and ODIs on home soil. The accolade marks her second ICC Player of the Month award in a short space of time.
“I’m delighted to be named the ICC Player of the Month once again. To win it two times in three months is very special and something I’ll cherish for a long time. I loved batting throughout Ireland’s tour of South Africa, and it was hugely rewarding to contribute with runs across both the ODI and T20I formats.”
Against Ireland, Laura set the tone early in the T20I series before seamlessly transitioning that confidence into the longer ODI format. Time and again, she provided South Africa with strong foundations at the top of the order.
Captain Fantastic does it again! 🌟#TheProteas captain Laura Wolvaardt has been crowned ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December 2025 👑
That’s two Player of the Month awards in just three months, a remarkable achievement from a leader who continues to set the standard for… pic.twitter.com/8lI58OkOz2
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) January 15, 2026
She might have gained individual recognition, but her focus remains firmly on the bigger picture and what lies ahead for the Proteas Women on the international stage.
“With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, my focus is firmly on carrying this momentum forward. We’ve shown real progress in recent ICC events, and I’m excited about the summer ahead in England and Wales. I hope to continue playing my part and help take the team all the way.”
Also worth mentioning, Laura finished ahead of teammate Sune Luus, who enjoyed an impressive all-round month, as well as India’s Shafali Verma. This goes to show South Africa’s growing strength and depth within the women’s team.
Looking at the year ahead, Laura Wolvaardt’s form and leadership continue to set the standard.

