In a boost to young cricketers around the world, the sport has been approved as a Summer Olympic discipline for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
A T20 format will be included in 2028, which will open the door to a host of new opportunities for young women looking to progress their skills further.
The International Olympic Committee approved the proposal this afternoon, paving the way for our national teams to perform at the highest level for the first time in Australian history.
The WA Cricket Foundation is committed to providing opportunities and a sense of belonging to young women and girls right across the state and has invested in pathway programs to assist our up-and-coming cricketers in achieving their dreams.
WA Cricket captain Chloe Piparo knows what it means to be a young woman achieving her cricket dreams, and her ambition was supported by WA Cricket as she received a scholarship to facilitate the development of young female talent.
At just 14 years old, Piparo and her family began making the trip from their home in Bunbury to Tuart Hill several times a week in the hopes of seeing her one day representing Western Australia, and eventually her country.
15 years later, the talented right-hander is now a staple of the Perth Scorchers fold, playing in Orange since WBBL|01.
“The support my family and I received from WA Cricket was instrumental in allowing me to travel to Perth and put the pieces in place for me to establish my place in the state side,” Piparo said.
“As a player ambassador for the WA Cricket Foundation, I see first-hand the work they are doing to improve the opportunities available to young women and provide skills beyond cricket that are so important.
“With cricket now being an Olympic sport, I can’t wait to see the next generation of girls coming through with the aspiration to represent their country at the Games.
“You can’t be what you can’t see, and the exposure of having our sport on the global stage will only increase the opportunities available to young women.
“The Foundation will continue to support girls coming through the ranks with their pathway programs and I’m excited to see continued growth in that space over the coming years.”
The WA Cricket Foundation supports young women and girls across the state through our Young Women in Cricket Pillar. To find out more about the programs we offer, click here.