Sarah Glenn re-signs with Brisbane Heat for full WBBL 12 season
Synopsis
Sarah Glenn is not just returning to Brisbane Heat — she is making history as the first overseas player signed under the WBBL's new direct contracting system. For a franchise that went winless through an entire season, her full-campaign availability could be the most consequential off-season move they have made in years.
Key Takeaways
Sarah Glenn , England leg-spinner, has re-signed with Brisbane Heat on a one-year deal for the full WBBL Season 12 campaign.
She is the first overseas player to be signed under the WBBL's revamped direct signing system , which replaced the overseas draft.
WBBL Season 12 runs from 29 October to 5 December .
Glenn, 27 , took 6 wickets in 2 matches at an average of 10.66 during Brisbane's winless 2025 season.
She has claimed 89 wickets in 73 T20Is for England at an average of 16.48 .
Jess Jonassen has stepped down as skipper but remains on the playing roster, joining Glenn and Charli Knott in a three-pronged spin attack.
England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has re-signed with Brisbane Heat for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) Season 12, becoming the first overseas player to secure a contract under the tournament's newly introduced direct signing system. The WBBL Season 12 campaign is scheduled to run from 29 October to 5 December.
A Historic First Under the New Signing System
Glenn's deal is the first to be confirmed since the WBBL scrapped its overseas draft mechanism in favour of direct multi-year and single-year contracts for foreign players. Her one-year agreement makes her available for the entirety of the competition — a significant departure from her previous stints with the franchise, where her appearances were more limited.
This marks Glenn's third stint with the Heat, having previously represented the side in WBBL Season 9 and as an injury replacement during the 2025 season. Her latest signing underscores the club's intent to rebuild around proven performers following a historically difficult campaign.
What the Coach Said
Head coach Mark Sorell expressed enthusiasm about securing Glenn for the full season. 'We're rapt to have 'Glenny' back with us, and this time for the entire competition. She's an outstanding person, great team player, and as we have seen, a very skilful bowler who will complement our attack in whatever role we ask of her,' Sorell said in a statement issued by the club.
Sorell also noted he had been monitoring her form closely. 'I've been keeping an eye on her bowling during the year, and her efforts for Yorkshire and for the Southern Brave in The Hundred have been excellent,' he added.
Glenn's Impact During Brisbane's Winless 2025 Campaign
The 27-year-old was a rare standout during the Heat's winless run last season, where they became the first team in WBBL history to go through an entire campaign without a single victory. Glenn had come in as an injury replacement for South Africa's seam-bowling all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, and despite limited appearances, she claimed six wickets in just two matches at a remarkable average of 10.66, finishing as the team's second-highest wicket-taker behind left-arm pacer Lucy Hamilton.
Glenn's International Credentials
Glenn has played 73 T20 Internationals for England, taking 89 wickets at an average of 16.48 and an economy rate of 6.05. She has also claimed 23 wickets from 19 ODI appearances. She recently returned to competitive cricket after a fractured thumb ruled her out of this year's T20 World Cup in England, making her comeback through domestic county cricket for Yorkshire and the Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Brisbane Heat's Road to Rebuild
Glenn's retention is a significant boost to a Heat side seeking to turn the page after their winless season. The club will also be under new leadership this year, following long-serving skipper Jess Jonassen's decision to step down from the captaincy — though Jonassen remains on the playing roster. Alongside Glenn and Charli Knott's off-spin, the Heat are shaping a multi-dimensional spin attack that could prove decisive in the season ahead. How effectively the squad translates individual talent into collective wins will be the defining question of their WBBL 12 campaign.
Point of View
And Brisbane Heat are its first real case study. A player of her calibre being available for an entire campaign, rather than a handful of matches, changes the strategic calculus for a side that was statistically the worst in the league last season. The harder question is whether one elite spinner, however effective, can anchor a rebuild that also requires batting depth, leadership continuity, and a new captain to step up. Jonassen's decision to stay on as a player while relinquishing the captaincy adds intrigue — but also potential friction — to what is already a high-pressure rebuilding season.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sarah Glenn and why is her WBBL signing significant?
Sarah Glenn is a 27-year-old England leg-spinner who has taken 89 wickets in 73 T20 Internationals at an average of 16.48. Her re-signing with Brisbane Heat is significant because she becomes the first overseas player to be contracted under the WBBL's new direct signing system, which replaced the traditional overseas draft.
What is the WBBL's new direct signing system?
The WBBL scrapped its overseas draft mechanism ahead of Season 12, replacing it with direct multi-year and single-year contracts that clubs can offer foreign players independently. Glenn's deal with Brisbane Heat is the first to be finalised under this new framework.
When does WBBL Season 12 start and end?
WBBL Season 12 is scheduled to run from 29 October to 5 December. Glenn's one-year deal makes her available for the entirety of the competition.
How did Sarah Glenn perform during Brisbane Heat's 2025 season?
Glenn joined the Heat as an injury replacement for Nadine de Klerk during the 2025 season and claimed six wickets in just two matches at an average of 10.66. She finished as the team's second-highest wicket-taker despite playing only two games in a season where Brisbane became the first WBBL team to go winless.
Who will captain Brisbane Heat in WBBL Season 12?
Long-serving skipper Jess Jonassen has stepped down from the captaincy ahead of WBBL Season 12, though she remains on the playing roster. A new captain has not yet been named, adding an element of uncertainty to Brisbane's rebuild.
