The biggest surprise of the 2026 Women’s Premier League mega auction came early. Australia captain Alyssa Healy went unsold, even though she had played 17 matches for UP Warriorz in the last two seasons. Her omission quickly became the main talking point among fans and experts.

The mega auction in New Delhi saw intense bidding as all five teams tried to strengthen their squads. UP Warriorz used the Right to Match (RTM) card to secure India’s World Cup hero Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.2 crore, making her the most expensive player of the day.

UP Warriorz Explain Why They Did Not Buy Healy

After the auction, UPW head coach Abhishek Nayar explained why the team did not go for Healy. He said, "Alyssa Healy going unsold was surprising for different reasons. When you're allowed only four overseas players [in the XI], your options are limited, and many teams prefer all-rounders in their set-up. It's a tough situation for someone of her stature."

Nayar stressed that they wanted multi-skilled players, not specialists, which affected Healy’s chances.

RCB Coaches Also Clarify Their Decision

Royal Challengers Bengaluru assistant coach Anya Shrubsole also spoke about the team’s strategy. She said RCB simply could not fit Healy into their top order.

She explained, "We have a very strong top order, and Georgia Voll gives us some offspin as well. With Richa Ghosh [as a wicketkeeper-batter] in the top five, going for Healy didn't make sense for us."

Healy’s Recent Form Raised Concerns

Healy entered the auction as the first name under the hammer. Yet her recent injury issues and inconsistent form in the current Women’s Big Bash League worked against her. She previously joined UP Warriorz for Rs 70 lakh in the 2023 WPL auction.

At the moment, she plays for Sydney Sixers in the WBBL. She recently regained form by hitting back-to-back ODI World Cup hundreds against India and Bangladesh, but that was not enough to attract a bid.

Deepti Sharma’s Strong Season Boosted Her Value

Deepti Sharma’s price soared because of her dominant performance in the Women’s World Cup 2025, where she won the Player of the Tournament award. UP Warriorz used their RTM card to bring her back, proving how important she remains to their plans.