Laura Wolvaardt Proud of South Africa's Journey in Women's World Cup 2025 Despite Final Loss

Wolvaardt's Reflections on the Tournament

Laura Wolvaardt, the captain of South Africa, expressed her pride in her team's performance during the Women's World Cup 2025, even though they fell short against India in the final. She acknowledged that this tournament marked the last for her teammate Marizanne Kapp and praised India's Shafali Verma for her exceptional batting skills. Wolvaardt noted that India performed admirably in the final, while her team's bowling remained strong throughout the competition. Ultimately, India secured their first ICC Women's World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Insights on Captaincy and Team Performance

"I couldn't be prouder of this team for the journey we had. We played brilliant cricket overall, but India outperformed us today. It's unfortunate to be on the losing side, but we will certainly learn from this experience. After struggling with scores of 69 and 97 against Australia, we managed to put those games behind us. We were either exceptional or disappointing, but thankfully, we leaned more towards the exceptional side. It was an amazing tournament for many players, and I am proud of the resilience we demonstrated. Regarding my captaincy, I didn't have my best year leading up to the World Cup and struggled initially. I was overthinking things, which wasn't beneficial. I realized it was just another cricket match, and separating the two aspects helped me play more naturally while focusing on captaincy at a different time," Wolvaardt shared after the match.

Praise for Shafali Verma and Tribute to Marizanne Kapp

"We were hoping for a bit more swing. There was still some assistance, so I believe it was the right decision to bowl first. We were competitive during the chase but lost too many wickets. I kept an eye on Shafali, who batted brilliantly. That's her style; when she gets going, she can significantly impact the game. Regarding Kapp, she has been outstanding for many editions, and it's heartbreaking that this will be her last. The entire team wanted to win it for her. She is like two players in one, and we are fortunate to have her on our side," she added.

Wolvaardt's Record-Breaking Performance

In the Women's World Cup final against India, Wolvaardt showcased her talent by scoring an impressive 101 runs off 98 balls. The 26-year-old had a record-breaking tournament, finishing as the highest run-scorer in a single World Cup edition. She accumulated 571 runs in 9 innings, boasting an average of 71.37, which included two centuries and three fifties.

This performance has solidified Wolvaardt's status among the all-time greats in women's cricket. She now has a total of 1,328 runs in 24 World Cup matches, with two centuries and 12 half-centuries, bringing her closer to the record held by New Zealand's Debbie Hockley, who has 1,501 runs in World Cup history. Wolvaardt's consistency is remarkable, as she now holds the record for the most 50-plus scores in Women's World Cup history, achieving 14 such innings in just 24 matches, surpassing notable players like Mithali Raj, Debbie Hockley, and Charlotte Edwards.