Madrid, March 3 (.) The India women’s national cricket team have been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award, becoming the first women’s cricket team to earn a place on the prestigious shortlist.
The nomination, confirmed by Laureus Sport on Tuesday, follows a landmark campaign in which India scripted the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history, 339 against Australia in the World Cup semi-final, before clinching their maiden global title with victory over South Africa.
They are joined on the shortlist by a formidable group of teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed their first NBA title while matching the 1996/97 win tally of the Chicago Bulls (84 wins); Paris Saint-Germain FC, who lifted their maiden UEFA Champions League trophy with a 5-0 win over Inter Milan and completed a six-title haul in 2025; the England women’s national football team, who defended their European Championship crown; the McLaren Formula One Team, who retained the Constructors’ Championship; and the European Ryder Cup Team, who secured their 16th Ryder Cup title.
The winners will be decided by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at a gala ceremony at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid on April 20.
Among the individual nominees, pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis, Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and swimming great Katie Ledecky headline the shortlist across categories.
Duplantis is nominated again for World Sportsman of the Year alongside tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar.
In the World Sportswoman of the Year category, McLaughlin-Levrone and Faith Kipyegon are joined by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Ledecky, football star Aitana Bonmatí, and tennis World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.
McLaughlin-Levrone described her nomination as an honour, reflecting on a season in which she transitioned from the 400m hurdles to the 400m flat and clinched world titles.
The Laureus Awards, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in global sport, celebrate excellence across disciplines, with this year’s ceremony set to bring together the world’s leading athletes in Madrid.
. VAN RR