Sydney Thunder have confirmed that Lisa Keightley will remain as the head coach of their WBBL side for two more years, keeping her at the club through the 2027 season. The announcement was made on June 23, 2026, ending any speculation about her future with the franchise.
Keightley has been with Thunder for three seasons. She led the side to the eliminator in 2023 and the challenger in 2024, though the team slipped to seventh place last season, a result she has openly described as disappointing.
One of Women’s Cricket’s Most Experienced Coaches
Keightley brings a coaching record that few in women’s cricket can match. She has previously served as head coach of England and Australia at the national level, and has worked with New South Wales, Western Australia, Perth Scorchers, Delhi Capitals, and Northern Superchargers at the franchise level. She guided Northern Superchargers to the 2025 Women’s Hundred title before the franchise changed ownership and rebranded as Superchargers Leeds this season.
She currently holds dual roles, also coaching the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League and MI London in the women’s Hundred, making her one of the most in-demand coaches in the global women’s game.
What Keightley Expects From the Coming Seasons
Keightley was direct about where Thunder stands and what she expects next.
“We’ve got the talent that can make us a title-winning side,” she said. “Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll have both been outstanding for Australia recently. We saw Tahlia Wilson make her international debut off the back of another great year. Anika Learoyd had a very impressive season, and Lucy Finn had stand-out performances in her debut season.”
Last season, she did not shy away from the result. “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.”
Thunder Management Back Keightley for the Long Term
Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland confirmed there was external interest in Keightley before she agreed to stay.
“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,” Copeland said. “Lisa is a genuine legend of women’s cricket, and we couldn’t be happier that she’s sticking with us.”
Copeland pointed to her role in shaping younger players as a key part of why the club pushed to keep her. “She’s 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.”
Thunder go into the next WBBL season with a settled coaching structure. The squad has several active Australian internationals alongside a number of younger players who showed form last season. The club’s stated goal is a return to the top of the competition within the two years of Keightley’s new deal.
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