Sophie Devine has signed on to stay with the Perth Scorchers in the WBBL for at least the next two seasons through a pre-draft agreement.
In last season's draft, the Scorchers opted to retain Devine over Marizanne Kapp, despite Melbourne Renegades’ attempt to acquire the New Zealand captain. Devine delivered another strong season, scoring 489 runs at an average of 37.61, including a century against Brisbane Heat, and taking 14 wickets. Her contributions helped the Scorchers reach the Challenger final, where they were defeated by Brisbane Heat.
Devine currently stands as the third-highest run-scorer for the Scorchers in WBBL history, behind only Beth Mooney and Elyse Villani.
"Returning to Perth was an easy decision for me," Devine said. "I've formed a special bond with the players and staff over the past four seasons, and I can't imagine playing for any other team."
While Scorchers have yet to confirm a new contract for Mooney, the Australia opener is anticipated to remain with the team. The club has also signed Mikayla Hinkley from Brisbane Heat during the off-season.
Last season, the Scorchers featured English players Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Lauren Winfield-Hill as their overseas contingent. Sciver-Brunt has announced that she will not be participating in the upcoming WBBL season due to her busy international commitments.
The WBBL is set to begin just a week after the T20 World Cup concludes, overlapping with England's tour of South Africa, which runs into late November.
Devine's commitment to the Scorchers comes on the heels of Chamari Athapaththu’s three-year contract with Sydney Thunder. Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes are the only WBBL teams yet to announce a pre-draft signing.