In a remarkable display of skill and leadership, South African captain Wolvaardt has played a pivotal role in leading her team to the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. Her exceptional performances on the field earned her the ICC Women’s Player of the Month accolade for October 2025. Throughout the tournament, Wolvaardt showcased her batting prowess by scoring 470 runs over eight One Day Internationals (ODIs) at an impressive average of 67.14, coupled with an outstanding strike rate of 97.91.
Expressing her excitement about receiving the monthly award, Wolvaardt acknowledged the honor of earning this recognition amid the World Cup's significant impact on women's cricket. She emphasized the remarkable matches and performances that unfolded during the tournament, which made her achievement even more meaningful.
Although her team did not secure the tournament title, Wolvaardt highlighted the pride they took in their victories and the unyielding spirit they displayed, remaining optimistic about the possibility of clinching an ICC World Cup title in the future. She expressed gratitude to supporters, reaffirming her commitment to making them proud on the field.
The Proteas had a challenging start to their World Cup campaign, suffering a disappointing loss to England where they were bowled out for a mere 69 runs. However, they showcased resilience by rebounding with a victory against New Zealand. The team's true capabilities shone in their subsequent match against the host nation, India, where they executed a brilliant performance to win by three wickets. Wolvaardt’s composed innings of 70 runs off 111 balls, along with Nadine de Klerk’s clutch finish, was instrumental in this pivotal win.
Wolvaardt continued to deliver strong performances, contributing a steady 31 runs against Bangladesh, followed by a stellar unbeaten 60 in partnership with Tazmin Brits, which set the stage for a robust opening stand of 125 runs. Her aggressive batting continued with a dynamic 90 runs off just 82 balls in a match against Pakistan.
The highlight of Wolvaardt’s World Cup journey came during the semi-final against England. In this high-stakes match, she scored a staggering 169 runs from 143 balls, helping South Africa post an imposing target of 320 runs. This impressive total ultimately proved too challenging for England, securing South Africa’s historic advancement to their first-ever World Cup final.