Is This Your New Favorite Sport?

    The swish of a basketball sinking into a hoop. The squeak of sneakers on a volleyball court. 

    When you think of sports, those sounds may pop into your head. But Sunaina, 12, hears something different. She daydreams about the crack of a cricket bat hitting a ball. 

    Cricket is the world’s second most popular sport. Tens of millions of people play it. Sunaina lives in India, where pro cricket is popular. But pro players there have always been men—until now.

    India recently created its first pro league for women. It’s called the Women’s Premier League (WPL). During its first season last spring, 50 million people watched its games on TV. 

    In India, most women don’t have careers. So the success of the WPL stands out. 

    Now many girls like Sunaina are dreaming of a better future through cricket. 

    The swish of a basketball sinking into a hoop. The squeak of sneakers on a volleyball court.

    When you think of sports, those sounds may come to mind. But Sunaina, 12, hears something else. She hears the crack of a cricket bat hitting a ball.

    Cricket is the world’s second most popular sport. Tens of millions of people play it. Sunaina lives in India. Pro cricket is popular there. India’s pro players have always been men. But not anymore.

    India recently created its first pro league for women. It’s called the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Its first season was last spring. Fifty million people watched its games on TV.

    In India, most women don’t have careers. So the success of the WPL stands out.

    Now many girls there are dreaming of a better future through cricket.

    The swish of a basketball sinking into a hoop. The squeak of sneakers on a volleyball court.

    When you think about sports, those sounds may pop into your head. But Sunaina, 12, hears something different: the crack of a cricket bat hitting a ball.

    Cricket is the world’s second most popular sport. Tens of millions of people play it. Sunaina lives in India, where professional cricket is popular. But pro players there have always been men—until now.

    India recently created its first pro league for women. It’s called the Women’s Premier League (WPL). During its first season last spring, 50 million people watched its games on television.

    Most women in India don’t have careers, which makes the success of the WPL especially remarkable.

    Now many girls like Sunaina are dreaming of a better future through cricket.

    India is a country in South Asia. More people live there than in any other country in the world. Like the U.S., it is a democracy—a government in which people elect their leaders. But women still lack many opportunities. Most are expected to get married, have kids, and stay at home. 

    Sunaina lives in the village of Dharoki. Her parents work as cleaners. The family’s home is a room on the second floor of a small building. To get inside, they climb a shaky ladder. 

    Sunaina and her sister, Naina, 13, play on the village’s all-girls cricket team. The game helps them forget their troubles—and dream big. 

    In India, working women make $188 a month on average. But WPL athletes can earn more than $400,000 per season. That kind of money would give the girls freedom to make their own choices. 

    India is a country in South Asia. More people live there than in any other country in the world. Like the U.S., it is a democracy. That means people elect their government leaders. Still, women don’t have many choices. Most are expected to get married, have kids, and stay at home.

    Sunaina lives in the village of Dharoki. Her parents work as cleaners. The family’s home is a room on the second floor of a small building. To get in, they climb a shaky ladder.

    Sunaina plays on the village’s all-girls cricket team. Her sister, Naina, 13, does too. The game helps them relax—and dream big.

    In India, working women make $188 a month on average. But WPL athletes can earn more than $400,000 per season. That kind of money would give the girls many more choices.

    India, a country in South Asia, has the largest population of any country in the world. Like the U.S., it is a democracy—a government in which people elect their leaders. But opportunities for women are still fairly limited. Most are expected to get married, have children, and stay at home.

    Sunaina lives in the village of Dharoki. Her parents work as cleaners. The family’s home is a room on the second floor of a small building. To get inside, they climb a shaky ladder.

    Sunaina and her sister, Naina, 13, play on the village’s all-girls cricket team. The game helps them forget their troubles—and dream big.

    In India, working women make $188 a month on average, but WPL athletes can earn more than $400,000 per season. That kind of money would give the girls freedom to make their own choices.