Brooks pleased with Jamaica's new WCPL franchise

Shane Brooks, head coach of Jamaica’s senior women’s cricket team, has hailed the launch of the Jamaica Empress franchise as a landmark moment for women’s cricket in the region, following Monday's official unveiling of the re-engineered 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

The Empress will be one of four franchises competing in a completely rebooted WCPL, set to take place entirely in Barbados over 10 days, from September 1–14.

Joining Jamaica are the Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Trinbago Knight Riders.

The tournament’s refreshed identity places Caribbean women at the “centre stage,” the organisers said, built on three core values —  empowerment, the will to win, and close community. 

A new creative platform, ‘She’s In’, will drive the league’s advertising campaign across female-focused social media channels throughout the region.

For Brooks, the announcement confirms what Jamaica’s results have long demanded.

“I think having a CPL franchise connected with Jamaica is a great thing,” Brooks said. “Since taking over the senior women’s team in 2022, we have won four titles, which states the dominance of the Jamaica women’s cricket team. So I think we are deserving. We have been one of the more dominant countries in the region, and I think, without doubt, we are deserving of a franchise.”

The coach emphasised that the Empress will provide far more than just another trophy to chase.

“It creates another opportunity for these ladies to play cricket at a higher level,” he said. “It opens doors and opportunities for people, and I believe that with so many young people coming through, this is another avenue for them to play some more cricket.”

Brooks pointed to a glaring lack of competitive fixtures in the current women’s calendar.

“Just playing cricket in January, the 50-over and T20, it’s not sufficient cricket for women in this country,” he said. 

“So having another opportunity to represent a Jamaican team or a Jamaican franchise is good. More games, more experience, and to be able to rub shoulders with international players, and for the opportunity for coaches locally to work at that level and rub shoulders with international coaches.”

While celebrating the news, Brooks struck a hopeful note about the future and about bringing top-level women’s cricket to home soil.

“It is a good thing. I’m just hoping one of these days, the WCPL will come to Jamaica, and our young ladies will see our stars playing at that level locally,” he said. “But having a Jamaica franchise in CPL is a wonderful thing.”