The Melbourne Renegades have been dealt a significant blow ahead of Thursday’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft, with confirmation that West Indies Women’s captain and all-rounder Hayley Matthews will miss the entire 2025 season due to upcoming shoulder surgery.

Matthews, who was re-signed as a pre-draft recruit on a two-year deal by the defending champions, sustained the injury while fielding in the opening ODI against England. Although she missed the final two matches of that series, the West Indies skipper returned to action for the home ODIs against South Africa and is expected to feature in the upcoming T20I series as well as the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) in September with the Barbados Royals.

Following those commitments, Matthews will undergo surgery later this year—timed to coincide with the Women’s ODI World Cup, which West Indies failed to qualify for. As a result, she will be unavailable for the remainder of the year.

Renegades general manager James Rosengarten expressed disappointment at the development, calling Matthews a cornerstone of the team’s recent success.

“We are clearly disappointed Hayley won't be with us this season,” Rosengarten said. “She's been instrumental during her time with the Renegades, not just with her performances but with her leadership and professionalism.”

“There's a very close relationship between the Renegades and Hayley and we know it will continue next year and beyond. Hayley loves this club and we share in her disappointment at not being available for this year's tournament.”

Matthews played a pivotal role in the Renegades’ title-winning campaign last season. She led the team’s run-scoring charts with 324 runs at a strike rate of 130.64, was their second-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps at 6.98 runs per over, and was named Player of the Match in the final against Brisbane Heat for her 69 off 61 and 2-24 with the ball.

With Matthews now ruled out, the Renegades will head into Thursday’s draft in Melbourne with all three overseas slots open, as they look to rebuild their squad in her absence.