WF · team desk
Washington Freedom Team: Squad, Results, Stats & Schedule
Washington Freedom's complete MLC 2026 hub: the official 20-player season directory and Chapman-to-Ravindra availability transition; all 13 scores through a third consecutive final; Andries Gous' league-leading 547 runs; Ben Dwarshuis' 16 wickets; Mitchell Owen's 427-run, 12-wicket return; Steve Smith's captaincy; Ricky Ponting's full staff; the D.C. home-market venue position; the 2024 title; Welsh Fire ownership links kept separate; and official club channels.
Washington, D.C., United States
WF
MLC champions · 2024 · three consecutive finals · 2024–2026
- Captain
- Steve Smith · MLC 2026
- Head coach
- Ricky Ponting
- Home
- Washington, D.C. home market
- Founded
- 2023 · MLC founding franchise
Team overview
Washington Freedom at a glance
Washington Freedom are Washington, D.C.'s first professional cricket team and one of Major League Cricket's six founding franchises. Entrepreneur Sanjay Govil owns the organisation, which launched with the inaugural 2023 season.
The 2026 league phase began with three losses in five matches, but Freedom won five of their final seven league games to finish third at 6-4, 12 points and net run rate -0.399. They then beat MI New York and San Francisco Unicorns on consecutive nights to reach the final.
Los Angeles Knight Riders defended 164 by one run in the Oakland final, leaving Freedom runners-up for a second straight season. Their complete record was 13 matches, eight wins and five losses, and they became the first club to reach three consecutive MLC finals.
Andries Gous led the entire competition with 547 runs, including 132 in the record 270 chase against MI New York. Ben Dwarshuis took a team-high 16 wickets, while Mitchell Owen combined 427 runs at a 197.68 strike rate with 12 wickets.
Govil also owns a 50% stake in Welsh Fire and Freedom retain a performance partnership with Cricket New South Wales. Those are organisational links, not extra Washington Freedom league entries; the MLC, Hundred and Australian teams keep separate squads and records.
Completed season2
Third in the league; runners-up by one run
League stage: third with six wins, four losses, 12 points and NRR -0.399. Playoffs: Eliminator win, Challenger win and a one-run final loss, making the full campaign 8-5.
Performance leaders
Washington Freedom's MLC 2026 leaders
Official final MLC data covers all 13 matches. Owen's all-round card is a transparent combination of batting and bowling totals, not an official player-of-the-season award.
Top run-scorer547 runsAndries Gous
13 innings · average 45.58 · strike rate 165.25 · high score 132
Second run-scorer427 runsMitchell Owen
13 innings · strike rate 197.68 · MLC-record high score 155
Top wicket-taker16 wicketsBen Dwarshuis
Eight matches · average 15.88 · best 3/31
Second wicket-taker15 wicketsSaurabh Netravalkar
12 matches · best 3/16
Leading all-round return427 runs · 12 wicketsMitchell Owen
13 matches · high score 155 · best bowling 3/19
Eliminator record chase132 off 56Andries Gous
Shared a 241-run third-wicket stand with Steve Smith in the 270/4 chase
Most catchesMitchell Owen10
Highest total270/4 vs MI New YorkRecord chase
Tightest finishvs Los Angeles Knight RidersLost by 1 run
Completed scores
All 13 Washington Freedom scores in MLC 2026
Every league and playoff score is listed chronologically. Freedom went 6-4 in the league, won the Eliminator and Challenger, then finished one run short in the final for an 8-5 overall record.
| Result | Date | Opponent & venue | Scores | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Match League 1 | Seattle OrcasGrand Prairie Stadium, Texas | WF 216 all out (20 overs)Seattle Orcas 219/5 (17.4 overs) | Lost by 5 wickets |
| W | Match League 2 | MI New YorkGrand Prairie Stadium, Texas | WF 245/5 (20 overs)MI New York 215/6 (20 overs) | Won by 30 runs |
| L | Match League 3 | Seattle OrcasOakland Coliseum, California | WF 139 all out (16.2 overs)Seattle Orcas 227/6 (20 overs) | Lost by 88 runs |
| W | Match League 4 | Texas Super KingsOakland Coliseum, California | WF 187/9 (20 overs)Texas Super Kings 185/4 (20 overs) | Won by 1 wicket |
| L | Match League 5 | San Francisco UnicornsOakland Coliseum, California | WF 190/4 (20 overs)San Francisco Unicorns 193/2 (15.1 overs) | Lost by 8 wickets |
| W | Match League 6 | Los Angeles Knight RidersKnight Riders Cricket Field, Pomona | WF 110/4 (17.1 overs)Los Angeles Knight Riders 108 all out (17.5 overs) | Won by 6 wickets |
| W | Match League 7 | San Francisco UnicornsKnight Riders Cricket Field, Pomona | WF 129/5 (18.1 overs)San Francisco Unicorns 126 all out (19.3 overs) | Won by 5 wickets |
| L | Match League 8 | Los Angeles Knight RidersGrand Prairie Stadium, Texas | WF 174/8 (20 overs)Los Angeles Knight Riders 192/8 (20 overs) | Lost by 18 runs |
| W | Match League 9 | Texas Super KingsGrand Prairie Stadium, Texas | WF 166/7 (19.4 overs)Texas Super Kings 165 all out (20 overs) | Won by 3 wickets |
| W | Match League 10 | MI New YorkGrand Prairie Stadium, Texas | WF 190/5 (18.3 overs)MI New York 187/8 (20 overs) | Won by 5 wickets |
| W | Match Eliminator | MI New YorkOakland Coliseum, California | WF 270/4 (18.4 overs)MI New York 266/9 (20 overs) | Won by 6 wickets |
| W | Match Challenger | San Francisco UnicornsOakland Coliseum, California | WF 238/6 (20 overs)San Francisco Unicorns 231/6 (20 overs) | Won by 7 runs |
| L | Match Final | Los Angeles Knight RidersOakland Coliseum, California | WF 163/9 (20 overs)Los Angeles Knight Riders 164 all out (19.4 overs) | Lost by 1 run |
Complete official MLC 2026 directory
Washington Freedom 2026 squad
The official directory lists all 20 players from the 2026 season. Mark Chapman covered the first half while Rachin Ravindra completed New Zealand duty, then Ravindra joined as Chapman's planned replacement; both remain here because each played and is part of the documented season timeline. The list contains ten overseas and ten domestic registrations.
Batters
BatterMark Chapman
BatterSteve Smith
BatterMukhtar AhmedWicketkeeper-batters
WK-BatterAndries Gous
WK-BatterLahiru MilanthaAll-Rounders
All-RounderRachin Ravindra
All-RounderMarco JansenAll-RounderMitchell Owen
All-RounderNikhil Chaudhary
All-RounderGlenn Maxwell
All-RounderIan Holland
All-RounderJack Edwards
All-RounderObus PienaarBowlers
BowlerLockie FergusonBowlerBen DwarshuisBowlerSaurabh Netravalkar
BowlerAsif Mehmood
BowlerAbhishek Paradkar
BowlerAmila Aponso
BowlerYasir MohammadCompetition record
League and season history
Washington Freedom compete only in Major League Cricket. Owner Sanjay Govil's 50% Welsh Fire stake, Freedom's Cricket NSW performance partnership and its shared-development work in the D.C.–Maryland–Virginia region do not make those teams part of Washington's MLC record. Welsh Fire, Sydney teams and local Minor League teams remain separate organisations with separate squads, fixtures and honours.
| Season | Finish | Record | Top scorer | Most wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3rd league · runners-up | 8 wins · 5 losses overall | Andries Gous · 547 | Ben Dwarshuis · 16 |
| 2025 | 1st league · runners-up | 8-2 league · qualifier NR · final loss | Mitchell Owen · 313 | Jack Edwards · 14 · Mitchell Owen · 14 |
| 2024 | 1st league · champions | 7 wins · 1 loss · 1 NR overall | Travis Head · 336 · Steve Smith · 336 | Saurabh Netravalkar · 15 |
| 2023 | 3rd league · Eliminator | 3 wins · 3 losses overall | Andries Gous · 142 | Andrew Tye · 11 |
Team operations
WF coaching and support staff
Ricky Ponting
Led Freedom to the 2024 title and three consecutive finals from 2024 through 2026.
Michael Klinger
Listed in the official 2026 team directory and squad announcement.
James Hopes
Part of Ponting's official 2026 coaching group.
Shawn Bradstreet
Part of Ponting's official 2026 coaching group.
Saurabh Walkar
Listed in the official support-staff directory.
Steve Smith
Captained all 13 matches and scored 399 runs, including 110 not out in the Eliminator.
Home venue
D.C. home venue not yet confirmed
Washington, D.C., United StatesFreedom represent Washington, D.C., but none of their 13 completed 2026 matches was played in the capital and the club does not list a completed fixed home ground. They played at Grand Prairie Stadium, Oakland Coliseum and Knight Riders Cricket Field in Pomona. A 2025 club partnership release described a local stadium as being developed for 2026, but no opening or Freedom match there was confirmed by the review date, so this page does not present it as operational.
Open the official venue source ↗Team news
Latest WF updates
Official club reports cover the final, both knockout wins, late league recovery, record innings and captaincy. The feed contains completed facts rather than pre-match projections.
Final report · 19 Jul 2026
Freedom fall one run short in the MLC 2026 final
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Challenger win · 17 Jul 2026Freedom reach a third straight MLC final
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Eliminator · 16 Jul 2026Gous and Smith rewrite records in the 270 chase
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Playoff qualification · 13 Jul 2026Gous powers Freedom to a winning league-stage finish
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Match win · 12 Jul 2026Dwarshuis finishes the chase against Texas Super Kings
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Record innings · 21 Jun 2026Mitchell Owen's 155 launches Freedom's first 2026 win
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Captaincy · 11 Jun 2026Steve Smith confirmed as MLC 2026 captain
Read at Washington Freedom ↗Official destinations
WF website and social handles
Use these direct links to avoid fan accounts and lookalike profiles.
Official websitewashingtonfreedom.comOfficial destination ↗Official X@WSHFreedomOfficial destination ↗Official Instagram@wshfreedomOfficial destination ↗Official Facebook@WSHFreedomOfficial destination ↗Official YouTube@WSHFreedomOfficial destination ↗Official LinkedInWashington Freedom CricketOfficial destination ↗
Reader questions
Washington Freedom FAQ
Where did Washington Freedom finish in MLC 2026?
Third in the league at 6-4, then runners-up after winning the Eliminator and Challenger and losing the final by one run.
What was Washington Freedom's complete 2026 record?
Thirteen matches, eight wins and five losses across the league stage and playoffs.
Who scored the most Washington Freedom runs in 2026?
Andries Gous led the team and the entire competition with 547 runs at an average of 45.58 and strike rate of 165.25.
Who took the most Washington Freedom wickets in 2026?
Ben Dwarshuis took 16 wickets in eight matches at an average of 15.88.
Who was Washington Freedom's leading all-rounder?
Mitchell Owen combined 427 runs at a strike rate of 197.68 with 12 wickets.
Who captained and coached Washington Freedom in 2026?
Steve Smith was captain and Ricky Ponting was head coach.
How many players are listed in Washington Freedom's 2026 squad?
Twenty. The season directory retains both first-half cover Mark Chapman and planned replacement Rachin Ravindra because both played.
What happened in Washington Freedom's 2026 Eliminator?
They chased 267 against MI New York, reaching 270/4 in 18.4 overs after Andries Gous made 132 and Steve Smith 110 not out.
Have Washington Freedom won Major League Cricket?
Yes. They won the 2024 title by beating San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs in the final.
How many MLC finals have Washington Freedom reached?
Three consecutive finals: champions in 2024 and runners-up in 2025 and 2026.
Where is Washington Freedom's home stadium?
The team represents Washington, D.C., but had no confirmed played home ground in 2026. Its 13 matches were in Texas and California.
Do Washington Freedom play in another league?
No. They play in MLC. Their owner's Welsh Fire stake and Cricket NSW partnership link separate organisations whose results are not merged here.
Are Washington Freedom and Welsh Fire the same team?
No. They have an ownership link through Sanjay Govil, but play in different leagues with separate squads, schedules and records.
What are Washington Freedom's official social handles?
The club uses @WSHFreedom on X, Facebook and YouTube and @wshfreedom on Instagram.
References
Sources for this team page
Updated 2026-08-10. Washington Freedom's own directory, final statistics, scorecards and reports establish the roster, staff, every result, leader totals and four-season history. The venue section distinguishes the D.C. market from the three tournament grounds actually used and does not treat an earlier proposed stadium timeline as proof that a local ground opened.
01
Washington FreedomOfficial current 20-player and support-staff directory
Open ↗02Washington FreedomOfficial roster announcement and Chapman-to-Ravindra transition
Open ↗03Washington FreedomOfficial 2026 schedule and all 13 scorecards
Open ↗04Washington FreedomFinal 2026 batting, bowling and fielding tables
Open ↗05Washington FreedomOfficial final report and one-run margin
Open ↗06Washington FreedomOfficial Eliminator report and record chase
Open ↗07Washington FreedomFranchise launch, ownership and 2024 title
Open ↗08Washington FreedomOfficial 2024 championship review
Open ↗09Washington FreedomOfficial 2025 final report
Open ↗10Washington FreedomOfficial 2023 first-season review
Open ↗11Washington FreedomWelsh Fire ownership link and separate competition context
Open ↗12Washington FreedomD.C. regional development and unconfirmed stadium plan
Open ↗13Washington FreedomCricket NSW performance partnership
Open ↗