A female-founded British cricket brand is crossing the Atlantic to help women’s cricket in the U.S. step up to the crease.
Maiden Cricket has been named founding apparel and equipment partner of the inaugural Seattle Orcas Women’s T20 Exhibition, which launched in August.
The partnership will see Maiden provide official playing kit, teamwear and specialist equipment including women’s batting pads, wicketkeeping pads and gloves.
It marks the brand’s first collaboration
It marks the brand’s first collaboration in the U.S. and comes as women’s cricket continues to build momentum internationally ahead of the sport’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028.
The Seattle exhibition has been established to strengthen opportunities for female players in the U.S., where competitive pathways remain limited.
Around 500 women are estimated to play cricket across the country, with approximately 20 regularly in contention for the national team and many players averaging just 35 competitive matches across seven or eight years.
Bringing together international players and leading U.S
Bringing together international players and leading U.S. domestic talent, the new competition aims to provide a high-performance environment while supporting ambitions for a future Major League Cricket Women competition.
Three teams are competing across six round-robin matches followed by a final, with fixtures streamed nationally.
Youth activities and family events are also being held to encourage greater participation.
Sean Cary, chief executive of the Seattle Orcas, said: “This exhibition is an important opportunity to showcase the talent that already exists in women’s cricket and create a competitive environment where players can continue to develop.
We wanted a kit partner that understood
“We wanted a kit partner that understood the specific needs of female cricketers, and Maiden brings that perspective to the tournament.
“We’re excited to be working together and help establish an event that can continue to grow in the years ahead.”
Maiden was founded by teenage sisters Honor and Cat Black after their own experiences of playing cricket in kit designed for boys prompted them to develop equipment specifically for female players.
The company recently appeared on BBC television programme
The company recently appeared on BBC television programme Dragons’ Den and is now using its Seattle partnership to take its products into the U.S. market for the first time.
Honor added: “When Cat and I started Maiden, it came from our own experience of loving cricket but never feeling like the game had been designed with girls in mind.
“We wanted to change that.
“We’ve seen women’s cricket grow so much over the past few years, especially here in the UK, and it’s really exciting to see that momentum building in the U.S. too.
“We’re incredibly proud to support the inaugural Seattle Orcas Women’s T20 Exhibition.
We hope it inspires more women and girls
“We hope it inspires more women and girls across the U.S. to pick up a bat and see cricket as a sport where they belong.”
The move follows a landmark summer for women’s cricket in the UK, where growing crowds, participation and investment have continued to raise the profile of the game.
With the U.S. set to compete as host nation at LA 2028, the Seattle initiative is designed to help broaden the pool of female players able to access regular high-level competition while inspiring more women and girls to take up the sport.
Anika Kolan, USA Women’s senior team player
Anika Kolan, USA Women’s senior team player and Maiden Cricket U.S. athlete ambassador, added: “Being part of the first U.S. women’s cricket tournament is an important milestone for the sport and for the players who have been working to grow the game here.
“Women cricketers need opportunities to compete at a high level and show the talent that already exists in the U.S. and North America.
“Having uniforms and equipment designed specifically for female players makes this moment even more meaningful.
It shows that women’s cricket is being taken
“It shows that women’s cricket is being taken seriously, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
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Source: bdaily.co.uk
