Sophie Devine embodies a rare blend of honesty, humility, and humor — qualities that shone through as she addressed the media after New Zealand’s heartbreaking exit from the Women’s World Cup 2025. Fighting back tears, she admitted, “I thought I was going to get through this press conference without crying.”
It wasn’t a plea for sympathy. It was the voice of a leader carrying the weight of an entire campaign — one that ended in a 53-run defeat to hosts India, sealing the White Ferns’ early exit after a turbulent tournament marred by both defeats and weather interruptions.
A Leader’s Honest Reflection
Devine struck a delicate balance between emotion and responsibility as she dissected New Zealand’s underwhelming run.
“It’s tough, isn’t it? Because I know I’ve spoken about [how] the weather’s followed us, jokes have been made about it. At the end of the day, you just want the opportunity to play cricket. We had fate in our hands. We lost the first two games, put ourselves under pressure. We lost today.”
She admitted the team hadn’t been good enough despite putting in relentless effort over the past 12 months.
“That’s what sucks about sport sometimes — you can work harder than anyone in the world, do all the right things, but it doesn’t guarantee results when it matters. Sometimes you wish that the good guys got the results. But not to be this time.”
The Bigger Picture: Challenges Beyond the Field
Even as emotions ran high, Devine took a step back to address the systemic issues facing women’s cricket in New Zealand. She spoke about limited infrastructure, smaller player pools, and the constant competition from other sports in a country of just five million people.
“We’re not like India; we don’t have 1 billion people to call upon. We’re a small country at the bottom of the world. And unfortunately, cricket isn’t the number one sport. So, we’re always going to be fighting for the attention of youngsters.”
Yet, she remains hopeful. The growing depth and opportunities for young players are signs of slow but steady progress. Devine stressed that building pathways, not just increasing player salaries, is the key to sustainable success.
“You can pay the top 15–20 players as much as you want, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be good cricketers. It’s the structure, the pathways, the grassroots investment that will shape the future.”
Farewell to ODIs, But Not to the Fight
Sunday’s clash against England in Indore will be Sophie Devine’s final ODI as captain of New Zealand. After stepping down from T20I captaincy earlier, this match marks the end of an era for one of the most respected leaders in women’s cricket.
“We’ll pull ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go bloody hard at these English people. Hopefully we leave everything out there and walk off with our heads held high.”
An Emotional Goodbye, But Not the End
Reflecting on her journey, Devine didn’t shy away from acknowledging the personal toll of leadership — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
“Sometimes people forget we’re human beings. We’re not robots out there. We feel the criticism, the hurt, the expectations. At the end of the day, we all have families to go back to.”
Even in defeat, she remains a picture of grace and authenticity — a captain who fronted up, owned the moment, and still believed in her team’s future.
“It sucks. Losing press conferences are the hardest ones to do, especially when you’ve been knocked out of a tournament. But I’m still proud of what this group has been able to achieve.”
A Legacy That Will Endure
Sophie Devine’s ODI captaincy may be coming to a close, but her impact on New Zealand cricket runs far deeper than statistics. She leaves behind a foundation of honesty, resilience, and leadership — and a team that will continue the fight she led with heart.
Stay updated with the latest Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Live Cricket Action—only on Today Cricket Matches!