Foxes confirm their squad for 2026

Ahead of their second season in Tier 2, the women’s team will see 10 new additions to the squad with a mix of experience and youth.

Lucy Western joins the Foxes from Sussex after 8 years on the south coast. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper batter provides experience for the young squad and will aim to replicate her 2024 form “ the year in which she hit her career best of 130*.

Tia Joseph also arrives from Sussex “ the Brighton born 20-year-old, providing the Foxes with extra Tier 2 experience.

Sophie Grayson is another player who originated from the Sussex academy “ the 21-year-old moving to Warwickshire for the 2023 season and then again to Oxfordshire for 2025. During the 2023 season, Grayson made 292 runs for the Bears’ U18s at an average of 48.67.

19-year-old Anjali Ketan arrives from Surrey bringing variety to the bowling attack with her leg breaks.

Right arm pacer Caitlin Chissell (also 19) will swap the coast for Grace Road, joining from tier 3 Dorset for 2026, also brings experience from Challengers Cricket. Additionally, Stephen Franklin’s squad will be joined by Emelia Butler who also will leave tier 3 Dorset ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Emma Wrightson will end her tenure with Yorkshire and move south to join the Foxes for 2026. The 19-year-old batter will be hoping to bag some runs next year.

Scottish international Nayma Mughis Sheikh is the highest profile signing for 2026. During her short international career, the 19-year-old has taken 7 wickets at an average of 15.

Both Indira Singh and Miriam Khan will join the Foxes from Warwickshire’s academy on loan. Singh scored 247 runs for their U18s side in 2025 along with taking 19 wickets. Khan averaged 31.71 for the U18s in 2025 as she bagged 444 runs- her best being an unbeaten 116 against Glamorgan.

Stephen Franklin, Head Coach of Leicestershire Foxes Women, said: â€œWe’re really pleased with how the squad has taken shape ahead of the 2026 season. Bringing in a mix of proven Tier 2 experience and exciting young talent was a key objective for us, and we feel we’ve achieved that with these additions.

“Players like Lucy Western and Nayma bring valuable experience and leadership, while the younger group have shown real potential within academy and county environments. Competition for places will be strong, which is exactly what we want as we continue to grow as a group.

“It’s also great to retain the core of last season’s squad, who laid strong foundations in our first year at this level. We’re looking forward to building on that in our second season in Tier 2 and taking another step forward as a team.”

These new signings join the following members of the squad that have been retained for 2026:

Rebecca Brooker 

Aimee Colquhoun

April Herathge      

Flora Davies - Blaze Academy - On Loan when Available

D'Nica Roff

Prisha Thanawala - Rookie Contract at The Blaze - On Loan when Available

Lucy Weston

Emma Thatcher   

Hayley Brown

Ellie Phillips - Blaze Academy - On Loan when Available

Holly Whitfield

Ellen Watson

Faith Teekasingh - Blaze Academy - On Loan when Available

The Foxes will begin their second season in Tier 2 on Sunday, the 12th of April against Sussex Sharks at Uptonsteel Grace Road in the Metro Bank One Day Cup League Two. Access to all our Women’s fixtures (apart from T20 Double Headers) is free to all members of the public.

You can view all our Leicestershire Foxes Women’s Team fixtures by clicking here.