Sophie Molineux, who was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) title-winning squad in 2024, was bought by UP Warriorz for Rs 1.1 crore at the WPL 2027 auction.
The bidding began at Rs 50 lakh, with UP Warriorz making the opening offer. RCB joined the race and pushed the price up to Rs 95 lakh in just 40 seconds before the two franchises continued to compete for the Australian all-rounder.
UP Warriorz raised their bid to Rs 1 crore, but RCB responded with an offer of Rs 1.05 crore. The Warriorz eventually secured Molineux for Rs 1.1 crore.
UP Warriorz entered the auction with Rs 3.75 crore remaining in their purse, the highest among the five franchises.
ALSO READ: UP Warriorz WPL 2027 Auction: UPW Full Players List, Remaining Purse, Slots And Retained Players
Sophie Molineux’s Recent Form And Injury Comeback
Molineux recently led Australia to the T20 World Cup title. She also returned to action during the T20I series against New Zealand after recovering from a hip injury that had kept her out for around two months.
The Australian all-rounder missed the WPL 2026 season because of the injury. Her signing gives UP Warriorz an experienced player who can contribute with both bat and ball.
Most Expensive Players In WPL History
Smriti Mandhana, Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt jointly top the list of the most expensive players in WPL history in terms of their retention fees for the 2026 season. All three received Rs 3.50 crore through retention.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained Mandhana, who also holds the record for the highest price paid for a player at a WPL auction. RCB bought her for Rs 3.40 crore in the inaugural auction in 2023.
Gujarat Giants retained Australian all-rounder Gardner, while Mumbai Indians kept England’s Sciver-Brunt for the 2026 season. Both players had also attracted bids of Rs 3.20 crore at the 2023 auction, making them the most expensive overseas buys at the time.