Proteas Women's captain Laura Wolvaardt praises support on team's return from World Cup

Proteas women's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, highlighted an increase in support from South Africa as a feat that gave them the strength to break records in the recently concluded 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India. 

Wolvaardt led the Proteas women's team to the country's first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup final, where they fell short by 52 runs against hosts India women in Navi Mumbai this past Sunday. 

However, the Proteas women - coached by Mandla Mashimbyi - achieved record-breaking results at the showpiece event.

Behind their success, Wolvaardt highlighted support from South Africa as what gave them the strength to push the boundaries. 

Wolvaardt added that having such a successful tournament helps inspire young girls and boys to pick up the sport of cricket, a feat that is of utmost importance in the country. 

"This tournament, we've really felt a lot of support from back home. Just seeing how many people were watching," Wolvaardt told the media on Tuesday.

"This is something that wasn't happening eight to ten years ago in the women's game. It just inspires young girls and boys as well to pick up the sport."

Sunday's final was not the Proteas women's first ICC event final, as the team reached two back-to-back ICC event finals during the 2023 and 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cups. 

Having fallen short in finals three consecutive times, including last Sunday's final, Wolvaardt described their journey over the past three years as frustrating. 

"We've come so close in the last three tournaments. It's frustrating that we've been playing really good cricket, but we haven't been able to get over the line," Wolvaardt said. 

"But at the end of the day, it's a game of cricket: one team has to lose and the other has to win."

Wolvaardt and her teammates received a warm welcome when they arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon. 

Despite missing out on the elusive trophy this past Sunday, the fans, aspiring young cricketers and members of the media flocked to the international arrivals section at OR Tambo, waiting to give captain Wolvaardt and her team the warm welcome they deserved. 

Once again, the Proteas women broke what were long-standing World Cup woes for South Africa, proving that South Africa has the talent and temperament to compete against the best teams in the world. 

On an individual basis, Wolvaardt became the top run-scorer in the World Cup, scoring 571 runs with two centuries and three fifties at an average of 71.37.

All-rounder Marizanne Kapp became the highest wicket-taker in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup history with 44 wickets as she surpassed India's Jhulan Goswami. 

Nonkululeko Mlaba finished the tournament with 13 wickets at an average of 22.69, with the 25-year-old registering best figures of 4/40.