Melbourne Renegades extend Sophie Molineux WBBL contract for two years

The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) club Melbourne Renegades have extended Sophie Molineux's contract further for two years. As a result, the current Renegades skipper will now feature for the club until the end of the ninth edition in 2024.

Molineux sounded excited and optimistic about the team's chances for the next two seasons.

 "I'm super pumped and really, really optimistic and looking forward to the next couple of years - especially after the last 12 months that we've had."

I was really lucky to have had that first year of captaincy under Simon Helmot. He definitely took me under his wing, and we had a great group of girls who were very willing to play any role they could for the team," she added.

She also reflected on last season's WBBL, where they ended seventh on the points table," Molineux said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"It would have been nicer to have gone a couple (of games) deeper in the competition and have won it, but we've got a bit of a building block and a template to how we want to play and how we want to feel as a group off the field as well.

I'm really looking forward to this year, to be able to come back to Melbourne, bring it back to our home state and play some home games in front of our fans," the all-rounder finished.

The 24-year-old had been appointed Melbourne's captain in 2021, guiding the club to their only final appearance to date that season. She has so far played 87 WBBL games, with 67 wickets in her bag.

Melbourne Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten lauded the left-arm spinner for her laurels and expressed his excitement to see her with the club.

"Sophie is one of the best spin bowlers in Australia and a fantastic all-around cricketer who can impact games with bat, ball or in the field. At just 24 years of age, she is already a proven performer on the international stage, and her best cricket is still to come," Rosengarten said.

"As a captain, Sophie was outstanding last year and her partnership with Simon Helmot in his first year as coach was a real game-changer for us. Sophie is a fierce competitor who leads by example on the field, has a great grasp of the game tactically and has helped drive a strong culture within the group.

Sophie is a passionate Renegades person, and we couldn't be more excited to have her committed to being a key part of our future," he concluded.

Molineux is a two-time T20 World Cup winner with the Australian Women's side, representing her country in all three formats.