18 March 2026 The Conversation: Sophie Devine’s record cricket contract can’t disguise a stubborn pay gap in women’s sport

On The Conversation, Lincoln University Lecturer in Sport Management and Sport Science Dr Hoani Smith discusses White Ferns captain Sophie Devine securing the equal-highest deal in the United Kingdom’s pro-cricket league last week. While this could be a sign of greater investment in women’s sport, it also highlights that they are still lagging behind in their ability to make a living from playing. 

When former White Ferns captain Sophie Devine secured the equal-highest deal in the United Kingdom’s pro-cricket league last week, it was greeted as another sign of how quickly investment in the women’s game is growing.

Moments like this make it easy to believe women’s professional sport has finally arrived. But Devine’s £210,000 (NZ$470,000) contract to play for the Welsh Fire also highlights something else.

She’s still an exception.

For most elite women athletes – including many representing New Zealand internationally – professional sport still doesn’t pay enough to make a living.

Take netball. Players in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership earn relatively modest retainers compared with other professional competitions.

After a 20% pay cut earlier this year, contracts reportedly sit somewhere between NZ$20,000 and $45,000 per season. Many players need secondary employment to sustain their careers.

By contrast, Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball competition operates under a team salary cap of about A$742,212, with average salaries approaching A$89,000, drawing top Kiwi players away from home.

Read the full article to learn more about the importance of raising the visibility of women's sports at The Conversation here >>

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