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Sophie Devine (Image Source: Getty)
New Zealand’s Sophie Devine announces ODI retirement: A look back at her global impact
Dherandra Bisht
Modified 29 October 2025 at 04:11 AM IST -2 min read
Sophie Devine, the New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team’s explosive skipper and one of the biggest stars of women’s cricket, has announced her retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket. Sophie’s final appearance was on 26 October 2025 at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Visakhapatnam, when New Zealand lost to England by eight wickets. Devine departs the format as a true legend of the game, having made her ODI debut back in October 2006, over 19 years ago.
A recap of Sophie Devine’s remarkable ODI journey
No woman in the history of cricket has built a career record to match the one that Sophie Devine created over her ODI period. She appeared in 159 matches and amassed 4,279 runs while claiming 111 wickets, thus becoming one of the few women to pass the 4,000 runs and 100 wickets marks in ODIs.
In her last game, she scored 23 runs from 35 balls and took a wicket, but the match ended in a disappointing result for her side. Though she was disappointed, Devine reflected with pride on where she started from, batting at No. 11 and then becoming one of the most lethal hitters in the women’s game.
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Her story extends beyond regular statistics. Competing at the top level with Type 1 diabetes, of course, fueled even more admiration for Devine. A destroyer with the bat, a calm and guiding presence in the ranks, and a match-winning allrounder with ball in hand, she was the heartbeat of the New Zealand cricket team for nearly 20 years.
Sophie Devine’s lasting global legacy
Sophie Devine was way more than a number on the scorecard. She was instrumental in taking New Zealand and women’s world cricket to greater heights. Her leadership guided a generation of players; her professionalism and humility gained the admiration of teammates and opponents. This echoed the sentiments of England captain Heather Knight, who said she was “a proper cricketer” and one of the cleanest strikers in the women’s game, underlining the admiration Devine garnered throughout the world.
Aside from her performance on the field, Devine has inspired aspiring young stars, campaigning for women’s cricket to be given more visibility and more funding off the field. She was among the sport’s most respected figures at the time, and her empathy and fortitude as a leader earned that stature. But although she is stepping back from ODIs, the T20 format is still in her sights, so this is not the end of her story.
Dherandra is a College Football writer at Sports League Season. An athlete-turned-writer, he brings on-field perspective to his coverage, highlighting the energy, rivalries, and culture that define campus football. His reporting emphasizes quick-turn updates and nuanced storytelling, connecting directly with engaged fans. Dherandra believes the vibrant atmosphere at college football games fosters community and is central to the sport’s growth in America.
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