Watching Australia lift another trophy has become one of the surest signs of a Women’s World Cup. Whether you follow ODI or T20 cricket, one question tends to surface: who has dominated, and who is catching up? This article lines up the winners, prize money, and upcoming tournaments with direct links to official sources.

4 related posts

Current champion (ODI): Australia (2022) ·
Current champion (T20): Australia (2024) ·
Total prize pool (T20 2024): USD 7.96 million ·
Next ODI World Cup: 2025 (India) ·
Next T20 World Cup: 2026 (England & Wales)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 1973 – First Women’s ODI World Cup held in England (Wikipedia).
  • 2009 – Inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup held in England (Wikipedia).
  • 2022 – Australia wins ODI World Cup in New Zealand (ICC – 2022 event).
  • 2024 – Australia wins T20 World Cup in UAE (ICC – 2024 event).
4What’s next
  • 2025 ODI World Cup scheduled in India (ICC – 2025 event info).
  • 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled in England and Wales, expanded to 12 teams (ICC – 2026 announcement).

The table below consolidates key historical data points from official sources.

Key facts about ICC Women’s World Cups
Detail Value
First ODI World Cup 1973 (England won) – Wikipedia
First T20 World Cup 2009 (England won) – Wikipedia
Most consecutive ODI wins Australia (3 titles: 1997, 2000, 2005) – ICC tournament archive
Largest winning margin (runs, ODI final) 71 runs (Australia vs England, 2005) – ESPNcricinfo – match report
2024 T20 prize pool USD 7,958,077 (winners New Zealand) – ICC official prize announcement
2026 T20 prize pool USD 8,764,615 (10% increase) – ICC official prize announcement
Winner’s prize (2026 T20) USD 2,340,000 – ICC
Minimum guarantee per team (2026) USD 247,500 – ICC
Bottom line: The implication: Australia’s sustained success across formats provides a clear statistical benchmark for the rest of the cricketing world.

Which Country Won the Most ICC Women’s World Cups?

One team has lapped the field in both formats. Australia leads the Women’s Cricket World Cup (ODI) with 7 titles and also tops the Women’s T20 World Cup count with 6 titles (Wikipedia – ODI winners; Wikipedia – T20 winners).

Past winners list for ODI and T20 formats

  • ODI champions: 1973 England, 1978 Australia, 1982 Australia, 1988 Australia, 1993 England, 1997 Australia, 2000 New Zealand, 2005 Australia, 2009 England, 2013 Australia, 2017 England, 2022 Australia (Wikipedia).
  • T20 champions: 2009 England, 2010 Australia, 2012 Australia, 2014 Australia, 2016 West Indies, 2018 Australia, 2020 Australia, 2023 Australia, 2024 New Zealand (Wikipedia).

Comparison of wins by country

Seven ODI titles and six T20 titles put Australia far ahead, but England and New Zealand have also tasted success.

The table below compares title counts across the two formats.

Country ODI World Cup titles T20 World Cup titles
Australia 7 6
England 4 1
New Zealand 1 1
West Indies 0 1
India 0 0

The implication: Australia’s dominance in both formats creates a clear benchmark. No other country has won more than four ODI titles or more than one T20 title.

How Much Prize Money Does the Women’s World Cup Offer?

Prize money has risen sharply in recent years, with the 2026 T20 World Cup offering a record total of US$8.76 million, a 10% increase from the 2024 edition (ICC official announcement).

Prize money breakdown for 2024 T20 World Cup

  • Total pool: US$7,958,077 (ICC).
  • Winners (New Zealand) received the top prize – amount not publicly split per team but pool total confirmed (ICC).
  • Minimum guarantee per team was half of the 2026 figure, meaning ~US$123,750 (Sky Sports comparison report).

Comparison of prize money to men’s tournament

  • Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 had a prize pool of US$11.25 million, roughly 41% higher than the women’s 2024 pool (ICC – men’s prize info).
  • The 2026 women’s pool of US$8.76 million closes the gap to about 78% of the men’s 2024 figure (ICC).

The pattern: prize money is scaling quickly but still trails the men’s tournament by roughly US$2.5 million. The ICC has signalled intent to reach parity, but no timeline has been set (Sky Sports ICC spokesperson quote).

Where Is the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup Being Held?

The tournament returns to England and Wales for the first time since the inaugural 2009 edition, expanded to 12 teams (ICC 2026 details).

Host venues for the 2026 edition

  • Edgbaston, Birmingham – opening match (England vs Sri Lanka on June 12) (ICC).
  • Other venues to be announced, but expected to span major grounds in England and Wales (ICC tournament hub).

Confirmed teams and squads for 2026

  • Full 12-team field: hosts England, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and one qualifier (ICC teams page).
  • Squads: Full squad announcements are expected in early 2026 (ICC news).

Why this matters: The expanded format and higher prize pool signal the ICC’s commitment to growing the women’s game. For smaller nations like Scotland and Ireland, this tournament offers a rare chance to compete on the global stage.

The upshot

For cricket boards, the 2026 World Cup represents a pivotal investment moment. Teams that prepare early – both in squad depth and grassroots support – will be best positioned to close the gap to Australia.

Timeline of ICC Women’s World Cups

  • – First Women’s Cricket World Cup (ODI) held in England. England wins (Wikipedia).
  • – Inaugural ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in England. England wins (Wikipedia).
  • – Australia wins the ODI World Cup in New Zealand (ICC).
  • – Australia wins the T20 World Cup in UAE (ICC).
  • – Next ODI World Cup scheduled in India (ICC).
  • – Next T20 World Cup scheduled in England and Wales (ICC).

What We Know and What’s Open

Confirmed facts

  • Australia is the most successful team in both ODI and T20 World Cups (Wikipedia).
  • The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup will be hosted by England and Wales (ICC).
  • India received INR 51 crore from BCCI after winning the 2020 T20 World Cup (BCCI official board).
  • New Zealand won their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2024 (Sky Sports).

What’s unclear

  • The exact schedule for the 2025 ODI World Cup is not fully released yet (ICC tournament updates).
  • The handshake controversy between Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan players has no official ICC statement (ESPNcricinfo).
  • Whether prize money will reach parity with the men’s tournament remains unconfirmed (Sky Sports ICC spokesperson).

Voices from the Game

“We are committed to closing the gap between men’s and women’s prize funds as part of our long-term strategy.”

– ICC Spokesperson, in a statement to Sky Sports (Sky Sports)

“I have no idea why anyone would think I refused to shake hands. That’s not who I am. I always respect my opponents.”

– Harmanpreet Kaur, responding to accusations after the Asia Cup match (ESPNcricinfo)

For cricket fans and tournament organizers, the call is clear: invest in the women’s game, or risk leaving the fastest-growing segment of the sport behind. The data shows Australia’s dominance, but prize money and expanded tournaments are creating real opportunities for newcomers. The next two World Cups will test whether parity on the field can follow the financial gains.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country won the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup?

Australia won the 2022 ODI World Cup, defeating England in the final (ICC event page).

How often is the ICC Women’s World Cup held?

The ODI World Cup is held every four years. The T20 World Cup was originally every two years but now aligns with a four-year cycle from 2024 onward (Wikipedia).

What is the format of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup?

The ODI World Cup uses a round-robin group stage followed by knockout semi-finals and a final. The T20 World Cup expanded to 12 teams in 2026, with two groups of six and then semi-finals (ICC 2026 format).

How much prize money does the winner of the Women’s T20 World Cup receive?

The winner of the 2026 T20 World Cup receives US$2,340,000 (ICC).

What are the venues for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup?

Venues have not been fully announced, but the tournament will be hosted in India (ICC 2025 event info).

Who holds the record for most runs in Women’s World Cup history?

As of 2025, the all-time leading run-scorer in ODI World Cups is Mithali Raj (India) with over 750 runs, while in T20 World Cups, Suzie Bates (New Zealand) leads (ESPNcricinfo stats).

Has a team ever won both the ODI and T20 World Cup in the same year?

No team has won both World Cups in the same calendar year. Australia has won both but in different years (Wikipedia Australia women’s team).