UP Warriorz suffer massive setback with this player's injury in WPL 2026; replacement announced

Just two games before their last two group-stage clashes of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, UP Warriorz have experienced a massive setback as injured Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the competition as the franchise announced. The Australia batter is the team’s leading run-getter of the team. 

Phoebe Litchfield, who has smashed overall 440 runs in 22 innings of the WT20Is at an average of 31.42 and a strike rate of 140.12 with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 64 runs, has drilled 243 runs in six innings of the WPL 2026 at an average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 154/77, shouldering on two half-centuries at the best score of 78 runs.

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In her position, Warriorz have signed Amy Jones as the replacement. Litchfield, who has picked up a quad injury, has returned home to rehab ahead of the Australia vs India series down under, which starts on February 15. Jone was unsold at the auction and has now been picked at her auction for a base price of INR 50 lakh by UPW.

UPW sign Amy Jones as replacement of Phoebe Litchfield in WPL 2026

Jones has notched up overall 1666 runs in 101 innings of the Women’s T20Is at an average of 20.31 and a strike rate of 121.60, thanks to five half-centuries for England at the best score of 89 runs. It will be her first season of the WPL and could attract more teams for the upcoming editions.

In the recent 2025/26 season of the Women’s Big Bash League, Jones collected 234 runs in 11 innings for the Melbourne Stars at an average of 23.40 and a strike rate of 125.80, with the help of one half-century at the best score of 59. The knockout game from early December 2025 remains his last competitive outing.

UPW were last in action on January 22 and lost to Gujarat Giants by 45 runs. They have the poorest net run-rate of the five teams. They need to win their two remaining games to qualify for the playoffs but also need to boost their net run rate. Their next game will be on January 29 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).