Eleven long years is a very long time in cricket. Seasons blur together, near-misses sting, and hope quietly resets every Australia’s summer. But at Bellerive Oval, all that waiting melted away as Hobart Hurricanes finally climbed the summit of women’s domestic cricket. This wasn’t just another trophy night; this was the night of the Hobart Hurricanes 1st title, a moment that felt overdue, deserved, and deeply emotional. The Hurricanes didn’t scrape through either; they announced themselves properly, finishing the job with confidence, calm, and a smile that said, “About time.”

Setting the Scene：WBBL Final Worth the Wait

The WBBL final had all the ingredients: a packed home crowd, the league’s most consistent side against a battle-hardened Perth Scorchers, and the weight of history hanging in the Tasmanian air. Hurricanes had topped the table, earning a direct path to the decider, while Perth had fought their way through finals week. On paper it felt tight. In reality, the match unfolded as one of the most commanding WBBL final highlights the competition has seen.

Perth won the toss and chose to bat, backing their experience to post something defendable. Early on, Beth Mooney and Katie Mack found a bit of rhythm, and the Hurricanes’ fielding wobbled — chances went down, nerves were visible. Mooney, dropped three times in the powerplay, made 33 before Heather Graham finally knocked over her off stump in the 11th over. That wicket shifted the mood entirely.

Bang. BANG!

Lizelle Lee hits Alana King for consecutive sixes at NInja Stadium 💥 #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/OoplEKj88y

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

Sophie Devine, captaining Perth with her usual grit, started cautiously before launching two towering sixes to lift the scoring rate. But just as she threatened to take control, she was stumped in the 17th over, another crucial moment in the WBBL final highlights reel. Heather Graham finished with 2 for 26, while Linsey Smith’s two overs of left-arm spin were pure gold, conceding just eight runs and picking up two wickets. Perth closed on 137 for 5, competitive, but short of imposing.

Lizelle Lee Turns the Final Into a Statement

If Perth hoped that total would apply scoreboard pressure, Lizelle Lee had other ideas. From the very first over, she set a tone that screamed inevitability. Three boundaries came early, including one chance that was parried over the rope, a sign that luck, too, had decided to wear purple.

Special performance from a special player 👏

Ladies & gentlemen, Lizelle Lee! #POTM #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/k1OFFwZyia

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

Lee’s unbeaten 77 off 44 balls wasn’t just fluent; it was authoritative. Ten fours, four sixes, and not a hint of panic. It was the highest score ever recorded in a WBBL final, and the centrepiece of the night’s WBBL final highlights. She stitched together partnerships that drained belief from Perth: first steadying things, then accelerating with Nat Sciver-Brunt, who chipped in with a classy 35.

The Player of the Final 🏆

Here’s all the highlights of Lizelle Lee’s 77* off 44 balls to give Hobart the #WBBL11 title! pic.twitter.com/RqnTfR94Vd

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

Alana King, usually so reliable, couldn’t find a way through, while the Scorchers’ attack looked increasingly resigned. When Nicola Carey cracked the winning boundary with five overs still unused, the Hurricanes had cruised home by eight wickets, a finish as comfortable as it was historic. The Hobart Hurricanes 1st title had arrived, emphatically.

A Season That Felt Different From the Start

This wasn’t a fairytale built on one night alone. The Hurricanes’ entire campaign had an air of calm authority about it. Seven wins, only two losses, and top spot secured without fuss, their best league performance since the competition began. While other sides chopped and changed, this group felt settled, balanced, and quietly confident.

After going through 10 campaigns without this moment, the @HurricanesBBL finally have their hands on a WBBL trophy 🏆 #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/7AFMrw3RoV

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

Coach Jude Coleman admitted after the final, “Very, very happy with how the game went. Wasn’t expecting it to be that… easy.” She also acknowledged the tense moments: “Dropped catches and moments where you’re like, ‘Oh gosh’, you hope that doesn’t affect the result.” But it didn’t. The Hurricanes repeatedly found ways to pull momentum back. At the heart of that stability stood Elyse Villani, whose leadership shaped the season as much as any stat line. Calm, thoughtful, and fiercely competitive, she captained a side that trusted its process, and trusted each other.

Elyse Villani’s Fairytale Farewell

For Elyse Villani, this title was more than silverware. It was closure. At 36, she confirmed this WBBL would be her last, bowing out with the Hobart Hurricanes 1st title firmly in her hands. Watching from the sidelines as Lee dominated, she soaked in the moment rather than chasing it.

“To be able to be a spectator in that moment and see the pure dominance our team put on display is something that was truly remarkable,” Villani said.

Later, amid the noise and celebration, she reflected on the future she’s leaving behind: “The group’s ready for me to step down and they’re in a great place and I know they’re going to do wonderful things.”

“That’s me done.”

Elyse Villani has just played her last Big Bash match, and she’s ended her WBBL journey with a title 🏆

(via @7Cricket) #WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/M1LmZWfEa8

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

There was singing, dancing, family in the rooms, the kind of scenes that make retiring feel right. Villani also spoke about the bigger picture:

“The core group is staying together and that’s something that’s really special… I think we’re built up for sustainable success.” Coming from Elyse Villani, that confidence carried weight.

What This Title Really Means

This win didn’t just end an 11-year wait; it reset the Hurricanes’ identity. The men lifted the BBL earlier in the year, and now the women have matched them. Tasmania is no longer waiting for moments; it’s creating them. The Hobart Hurricanes 1st title feels less like a peak and more like a foundation.

HOBART’S HEROES 💜

The @HurricanesBBL have won their first WBBL title in #WBBL11 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3zVGaoqfDD

— Weber Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 13, 2025

As the crowd drifted home and the players lingered with the trophy, one thing was clear: this wasn’t a fluke, and it wasn’t borrowed time. It was earned, thoroughly and joyfully. And if the rest of the league was watching closely — especially those replaying the WBBL final highlights — they’ll know one thing for certain. The Hurricanes have arrived.