What Is 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup was held in England from June 24 to July 23, 2017, featuring 8 teams. England won the tournament by defeating India by 9 runs in the final at Lord's.

Key Facts

Host country: England
Tournament duration: June 24 – July 23, 2017
Number of teams: 8
Final match venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Champions: England (first title since 1993)

Overview

The 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup was the 11th edition of the tournament and marked a pivotal moment in the growth of women's cricket globally. Held in England, it showcased high-level competition and record-breaking performances, culminating in a thrilling final at Lord's.

Organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament followed a round-robin group stage followed by a knockout phase. It was the first Women's World Cup to feature full international status for all matches, highlighting the sport's increasing professionalism.

Host nation: England hosted all matches across six venues, including Derby, Bristol, and Leicester, maximizing regional engagement and fan access.
Format: The 8 participating teams played each other once in a round-robin league, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
Final match: England defeated India by 9 runs in a closely contested final at Lord’s, securing their third World Cup title after 1993 and 2009.
Top performer: Australia’s Meg Lanning scored 374 runs in the tournament, the highest individual tally, earning her the Player of the Tournament award.
Viewership: The final attracted over 1.6 million viewers in the UK alone, a record for women’s cricket broadcasts at the time.

How It Works

The tournament structure combined league play with knockout stages to determine the champion, emphasizing consistency and peak performance under pressure. Each match followed standard One Day International (ODI) rules with 50 overs per side.

Round-robin stage: All 8 teams played 7 matches each, totaling 28 group games. Points were awarded for wins, with bonus points for run rate in some cases.
Knockout stage: The top four teams after the group stage advanced to the semi-finals, with winners progressing to the final.
Umpiring: Matches were officiated by ICC-appointed umpires, including female officials like Kathy Cross, promoting gender inclusivity in cricket governance.
Player eligibility: Each team registered a squad of 15 players, with final playing XIs selected before each match according to strategy and conditions.
Scoring system: Teams earned 2 points for a win and 1 for a tie or no result, with net run rate used as a tiebreaker in standings.
Reserve days: The final had a reserve day (July 24) in case of rain, which proved crucial as weather threatened the match.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key metrics from the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup with the 2013 and 2022 editions to illustrate growth and evolution.

Year	Host	Teams	Champion	Final Venue
2013	India	8	Australia	Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
2017	England	8	England	Lord's, London
2022	New Zealand	8	Australia	Basin Reserve, Wellington
2017 Attendance	Average of 12,000 spectators per match; final drew 26,500 to Lord's.
2017 Prize Pool	Total prize money was $1 million, with winners receiving $400,000 — a significant increase from 2013.

This comparison shows that while the number of teams remained consistent, visibility, attendance, and financial investment in the Women’s World Cup have steadily increased, especially after 2017, which acted as a catalyst for future growth.

Why It Matters

The 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup had a transformative impact on the sport, elevating the profile of female athletes and inspiring greater investment in women’s cricket programs worldwide. It demonstrated that women’s sports could draw large audiences and generate significant media interest.

Increased visibility: Broadcast in over 100 countries, the tournament reached a global audience, raising awareness of women’s cricket.
Equal pay advocacy: The success fueled campaigns for equal pay and conditions, leading to improved contracts in countries like Australia and England.
Grassroots impact: Participation in girls’ cricket rose by 35% in England in the year following the tournament.
Media coverage: Major outlets like BBC and ESPN significantly expanded their women’s cricket reporting post-2017.
Legacy events: The ICC launched the Women’s Championship in 2019, directly influenced by the 2017 World Cup’s success.
Player recognition: Stars like Ellyse Perry and Tammy Beaumont became household names, signing endorsement deals and appearing in mainstream media.

The 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup was not just a sporting event — it was a milestone that reshaped the landscape of women’s cricket, setting new standards for competition, visibility, and equity.