In a landmark move signaling a new era for women's cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record-breaking prize pool for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup. The total prize money for the tournament, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, will be $13.88 million, a staggering 297% increase from the $3.5 million offered at the last edition in New Zealand in 2022.

What makes this announcement even more significant is that the total prize pool surpasses the $10 million awarded at the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup in India. This means the women's tournament will offer $3.88 million more than the men's edition.

The winners of the 13th edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup will receive a check for $4.48 million, a 239% increase from the $1.32 million that Australia took home after winning the title in 2022. To further illustrate the monumental rise in prize money, the runners-up will be awarded $2.24 million, a 273% increase compared to the $600,000 that England received three years ago. The losing semi-finalists will each earn $1.12 million, a significant jump from the $300,000 they received in 2022.

But the increased prize money isn't just for the top finishers. Every team participating in the group stage is guaranteed to earn $250,000, and each group-stage win will fetch an additional $34,314. Teams finishing fifth and sixth will each receive $700,000, while the seventh and eighth-placed teams will get $280,000.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah has hailed this announcement as a "defining milestone" in the journey of women's cricket. He emphasized that the four-fold increase in prize money is a landmark moment that reflects the ICC's commitment to the long-term growth of the women's game. Shah has also stated that women cricketers should know they will be treated on par with men if they choose cricket as a profession.

The decision to increase the prize money aligns with the ICC's strategy to amplify the growth of women's cricket and introduce pay parity. This move is expected to inspire the next generation of players and fans, and accelerate the upward trajectory of women's cricket.

The 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup will be held across five venues: Guwahati, Indore, Navi Mumbai, and Visakhapatnam in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka. The tournament will begin on September 30 with hosts India taking on Sri Lanka in the opening match in Guwahati.