No buyers for Alyssa Healy: Shocking names that went unsold in WPL 2026 mega auction

Shocking names that went unsold in WPL auction [Source: @cricbuzz/x.com]

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction is now complete, as all five franchises have retained their key players and filled the remaining gaps by acquiring quality players on the auction table. Each franchise invested heavily in revamping its squad, with some teams spending a hefty amount of money, while others made shrewd buys.

However, some big names were omitted as the teams didn’t bid for them in the mega auction. In this piece, we have jotted down a list of 5 such players who should have been sold, but the franchises ignored them.

1) Alyssa Healy

Perhaps the shock of the day came in the very first bid of the day as Alyssa Healy, the Australian captain, went unsold, not once, but twice. A 6-time T20 World Cup winner, Healy was one of the marquee players, but the Aussie star went unsold, and the decision came as a surprise.

(Healy in WPL)

• The opening batter has a stellar record in the WPL and should have been one of the top picks in the auction. Moreover, several teams needed a quality opener and a captain, but they somehow ignored Healy as the Aussie skipper went unsold.

2) Chamari Athapaththu

One of the best opening batters in the modern era, Chamari Athapaththu, went unsold in the mega auction. She has been Sri Lanka’s batting backbone, and has tormented bowlers across the globe.

(Athapaththu in T20Is)

• A player with an experience of 146 T20I games and a plethora of runs, teams hardly showed any interest in her as the Sri Lankan star and one of the best batters was neglected in mega auction.

3) Alana King

Perhaps the best spinner in Women’s cricket at the moment, Alana King, was expected to fetch a big amount in the mega auction, but her snub came as a shocker as none of the five sides showed any interest in acquiring her services for the season.

(Alana King in T20Is)

• In 27 T20I games, King has fetched 27 wickets, but the impressive part is her economy rate, which stands at 6.49. Every team needs a wicket-taking spinner, and they missed out on an opportunity to rope a world-class bowler in their setup for next season.

4) Alice Capsey

The English star was one of the key members for the Delhi Capitals in the previous WPL seasons, but the franchise released her. However, it was expected that Capsey might get suitable buyers in the auction, but her rejection was a surprise.

There are not many quality all-rounders roaming around, and it was evident that Capsey will fetch a hefty amount of money, but that didn’t. In the IPL, she has a strike rate of 133, and it defines her ability to play aggressively.

5) Heather Knight

The former England captain and RCB-W star, Heather Knight, was unsold in the mega auction, and this was despite her brilliant Women’s World Cup campaign.

• She has played just one season in the WPL, but the England legend had a brilliant strike rate of 140, and teams would have benefited from the presence of an experienced player. Moreover, Knight’s leadership quality would have come in handy, as teams missed a chance to buy a quality overseas player.

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