WBBL 2025: Perth Scorchers coach Becky Grundy says franchise as ‘close as they’ve ever been’ to a second title

Perth Scorchers coach Becky Grundy believes the franchise is as “close as they have ever been” to a second WBBL title after winning their way into Saturday’s grand final the hard way.

Perth may have been left heartbroken in Hobart as the Hurricanes stormed to victory with 30 balls to spare off the back of an outrageous, unbeaten Lizelle Lee knock of 77 from 44 balls, but Grundy is hopeful it is just a dress rehearsal for seasons to come.

The Scorchers won six out of seven games to earn the right to challenge the minor premiers at Ninja Stadium, including winning two elimination finals, with one over the star-studded Sydney Sixers.

And they did it by fixing their reliance on stars Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine, with youngster Maddy Darke taking steps forward at first drop, while imports Freya Kemp and Paige Scholfield both contributed throughout the campaign.

It has made Grundy feel optimistic going forward.

“I had a really good feeling coming into this final,” Grundy told The West Australian.

“When you do have those multiple contributions throughout your squad, and you’ve got the depth in players sat on the bench, I feel like we probably are the closest that we’ve ever been.

“Not just in results, but just the people we’ve got around the group and the people we’ve got in that group, so that’s a really positive thing for us to build on next year.

“I think I’ve been quite public with needing to take steps to take pressure off (Devine and Mooney) and bringing in Freya Kemp and Paige Scholfield, those roles those players have been able to do (is invaluable).

“Maddy Darke showed really good improvements this year to. That was something we needed, and it’s pleasing when those decisions pay off.

“We’ll tweak the players that we’ve got and look at where our gaps may be. Fingers crossed we can go one better next year.”

Grundy was clear in her disappointment after the loss on Saturday and said it felt like a missed opportunity.

However, she added she was proud of what her side had achieved this season.

“I’m incredibly proud. The group’s been awesome and grown throughout the tournament, which has been really pleasing,” she said.

“We’ve seen different people step up at different times to win us games of cricket, and that’s what good teams do.

“It’s been really special to see.”

Mooney continued her remarkable ability to score a minimum of 400 runs in a season all but once while her new opening partner Katie Mack fit in seamlessly.

The duo scored more than 500 runs as a combination, including a 100-run stand in the first final against Melbourne Stars.

Devine led Perth for wickets with 15 and while a broken finger stifled Alana King, she still managed 12 scalps.

Chloe Ainsworth backed her young gun of the year campaign in WBBL 10 with another 13 wickets this season, including Meg Lanning in The Knockout to break the back of the Stars.