Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt is a sportswoman we should all be celebrating! The number one batter nominated for numerous awards, Laura sat down to reflect on 2024 and the big year 2025 could be for her team:
South Africa (10 January 2025) — It was an extraordinary 2024 season for Laura Wolvaardt, captain of the Proteas Women’s cricket team.
Laura capped off the season in a big way, earning nominations in three categories for the ICC Awards: Women’s Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year, and T20I Player of the Year.
Recently, Laura sat down for an exclusive to chat about her success, position as the number 1 batter in 2025 and the World Cup ahead:
“I am super honoured and happy to be nominated for the award. It is a nice way to look back at the year, a successful year for us as a team. Obviously making it into the final of the World Cup and it was nice that I was able to contribute to the team within the year,” Laura says.
As the world’s top-ranked ODI batter, Laura recognises the phenomenal achievement as a childhood dream realised.
“Very cool to enter the 2025 year as the number 1 batter. It is definitely something growing up, you sort of want to be the best batter in the world and that is what I always wanted to be,” says Laura.
“The challenge now is to stay there, I think the rankings are updated weekly and it is tough to stay there. It will be a good challenge for me now, to be nice and consistent and make sure I stay up there as long as I can.”
With a staggering ODI average of over 87, more than 600 runs in T20s, and 223 runs in three Test matches, 2024 stands as the captain’s most prolific year.
“Even with the captaincy, it has really challenged me as a player as well. But it has been a great year of learning for me as a player and captain.”
As the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup looms, Captain Wolvaardt is determined to guide her team through what will be a huge year.
“The main one for us is the 50-over World Cup that we have at the end of the year…it is a huge year for us. It is only every four years that we get to play in that competition and it is the ultimate competition there is in the women’s game…in my opinion. To make the final qnd hopefully win that one will be very very special.”
“It is full steam ahead to the World Cup, that is definitely the main goal.
Laura Wolvaardt’s remarkable 2024 season has laid a strong foundation for a potentially historic 2025 as the Proteas Women look to build on their success and aim for their first major ICC trophy.
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