Lisa Keightley will stay in charge of Sydney Thunder’s WBBL side for another two seasons, the club confirmed on Monday night. The extension keeps her in Western Sydney until the end of the 2027 competition – a fair vote of confidence given the way results have seesawed since she took the job in 2023.
First, the basic numbers. Thunder reached the eliminator in 2023 and the challenger in 2024, then slipped to seventh last summer. Two play-off appearances from three campaigns is solid, though nobody at Blacktown Drive will be pretending a mid-table finish is good enough.
The 52-year-old brings a weighty CV. Beyond the WBBL, she guides Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League and MI London in The Hundred. Earlier stops include head roles with England, Australia’s women, New South Wales, Western Australia, Perth Scorchers, Delhi Capitals and Northern Superchargers – she steered the last of those to the 2025 Hundred title, just before the outfit was re-branded as Superchargers Leeds.
“I’m really excited to be staying with Sydney Thunder for another two years,” Keightley said.
“We’ve got the talent that can make us a title-winning side. Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll have both been outstanding for Australia recently, and they bring real firepower to our batting group.
“We saw Tahlia Wilson make her international debut for Australia off the back of another great year.
“Anika Learoyd had a very impressive season, and our young guns showed promising signs for the future, including Lucy Finn who had some stand-out performances in her debut season.
“Last season was obviously disappointing from an on-field perspective. We know we have a much better performance in us, and we will be pushing ourselves to get back into genuine contention.
“I know this group, the work we’re doing behind the scenes, and I believe the squad is building towards something special in the upcoming season.”
Thunder general manager Trent Copeland sounded equally relieved. “Lisa is a genuine legend of women’s cricket, and we couldn’t be happier that she’s sticking with us,” Copeland said. “She’s a highly sought-after coach with interest from teams around the world, but she loves being here, and we love having her at Thunder.
“She’s also the perfect person to continue fostering the early leadership and development of someone like Phoebe Litchfield, which is crucial for the future of this team and Australian cricket.
“We truly believe all the pieces are in place; the playing group, the environment and the support for this programme to win titles over the next two years and beyond.”
Analysis and a quick reality check
1. Squad depth
Plenty of top-order steel – Litchfield, Voll, Wilson – yet Thunder probably still need a senior quick to give the attack more bite, especially on flat November pitches.
2. Keightley’s workload
Juggling WPL, The Hundred and WBBL commitments means near-year-round travel. Coaches insist they manage, but fatigue is a factor. Keightley’s track record suggests she plans well, though assistant staffing becomes vital.
3. Window for silverware
The core group is young but already capped for Australia. The next two summers look the sweet spot before bigger international workloads cut into availability.
If Thunder can sort their bowling balance and keep everyone fit, a return to finals feels realistic. Equally, another stumble could prompt a rethink. For now, they have locked in one of the most respected voices in the women’s game – and that, at least, is half the plan ticked off.
