Restructure will give women 'real platform' - Luff

Sophie Luff played in Western Storm's first ever match and their last this weekend

Western Storm captain Sophie Luff says the restructure to the women's domestic game for 2025 provides a "real platform" for the sport.

Eight counties will host professional women's teams next year, replacing the regional clubs - including Western Storm - that play in the top competitions.

The change means that Luff played in Western Storm's final ever match last weekend, when they were defeated by Lancashire Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

"The fact that we're aligning back to county clubs is great for the game, it gives us a real platform and marketing opportunity," Luff told BBC Radio Somerset.

"Ultimately, the women's game at the moment is a really good product.

"Through The Hundred, we've been able to market it really well but we don't do that in the regional game so the chance to realign with county clubs hopefully brings that aspect to the fore."

The plans will see a three-tiered domestic competition created, with Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire the eight counties selected by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and awarded Tier 1 status for 2025.

Glamorgan and Yorkshire join them in 2027 as part of an expansion, with two further teams added in 2029.

The counties will replace the teams that have competed in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in recent years and will also enter the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.

The ECB says there will be £8m funding available every year for the women's domestic game by 2027, taking annual investment to around £19m.

Western Storm formed in 2016 and won the Kia Super League title twice

Taunton-born Luff came through the Somerset pathway and has played for Western Storm since it was created in 2016, playing in their first fixture also against Lancashire Thunder eight years ago.

She was part of the squad that won Kia Super League titles in 2017 and 2019.

The right-arm batter said she hopes with the women's and men's clubs now under one roof, the women's game will only continue to grow.

"Hopefully, we can get a lot of people coming to double-headers attracting a new audience to the game and ultimately we've got the opportunity to allow more professionals into the game," Luff said.

"We've been a little bit nomadic over the last couple of years, we've been training out of Taunton, Bristol and Cardiff. Realigning to one county, one home base, that's what we wanted.

"We'll have a home and we'll feel connected to the club."