Sophia Dunkley Returns to Sydney Sixers, Signs One-Year Deal for WBBL|12

England's top-order batter Sophia Dunkley will remain with Sydney Sixers for another season after signing a one-year contract for WBBL|12, the club announced on September 3.

Dunkley made an immediate impact in her first season with the Sixers. During WBBL|11, she scored 354 runs, finishing as the team's second-highest run-scorer behind Ellyse Perry and helping the side reach the finals.

The 28-year-old batter is returning to Australia after a productive 2026 season. She was part of England's campaign at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where she scored 120 runs in three matches at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 139.53. Her highest score was 57 off 37 balls against Scotland, for which she was named Player of the Match.

Strong run in The Hundred

Dunkley also enjoyed an impressive campaign with Trent Rockets in The Hundred. She helped the team win the 2026 title and became the competition's all-time leading run-scorer during the tournament.Her recent form gives the Sixers another proven international option at the top of their batting order. She is expected to reunite with several of the players from last season, including Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry.Dunkley said she was delighted to return to Sydney after enjoying her first season with the Sixers. She said she felt welcomed by the players, coaches and supporters and was looking forward to playing again at North Sydney Oval.Sydney Sixers General Manager Rachael Haynes said Dunkley had made an immediate impact last season and described her return as a significant boost for the team.

Sixers squad takes shape for WBBL|12

With Dunkley's signing, the Sixers' WBBL|12 list includes Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Sophia Dunkley, Ashleigh Gardner, Elsa Hunter, Amelia Kerr, Ellyse Perry and Courtney Sippel, according to the club's latest squad update.Dunkley will play under newly appointed Sixers WBBL head coach Peter Clarke.The signing is also notable because it comes after Dunkley's strong WBBL|11 season, when she formed an effective opening partnership with Perry and quickly became one of the key contributors to the Sixers' campaign.MP/Chhattisgarh relevance: No meaningful Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh connection is evident in this development, so no regional angle has been added.