India Women’s World Cup champions miss out on Laureus glory as PSG win top honour
India’s Women’s World Cup-winning team missed out on Laureus glory, with Paris Saint-Germain clinching the prestigious Laureus World Team of the Year 2026 award at a gala ceremony held at Cibeles Palace on Monday, April 20. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side had earned widespread recognition following their triumph last November, but it wasn’t enough to secure the top prize.
The Indian team had been nominated alongside elite contenders such as the England Women’s national football team, the European Ryder Cup team, McLaren Formula 1 Team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and PSG.
PSG’s triumph was built on a phenomenal 2025 season under coach Luis Enrique. The French giants claimed six major titles, including a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final. They also completed a domestic treble—Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophe des Champions—while adding the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup to cap off a historic campaign.
HOW INDIA WOMEN TRIUMPED LAST YEAR
India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign was a true roller-coaster. They began strongly, registering convincing wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with a blend of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling setting the tone. However, their momentum faltered with three straight defeats against Australia, South Africa, and England, exposing gaps against top opposition.
A major blow followed when in-form opener Pratika Rawal, who had amassed 308 runs, was ruled out with an ankle injury, forcing a reshuffle as Shafali Verma stepped in. Despite the setbacks, India showed remarkable resilience in the knockouts.
They pulled off a record chase against Australia in the semi-final before sealing their maiden Women’s World Cup title with a 52-run win over South Africa in the final.
Shafali’s all-round brilliance and Deepti Sharma’s match-winning performance headlined a historic triumph that captured the nation’s imagination.
The Indian women’s team is currently in South Africa, where they are competing in a five-match T20I series. Following an eight-wicket defeat on Sunday, they now trail 0-2 in the series. India will next tour England for a three-match T20I series and a Test at Lord’s before turning their focus to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on June 12.
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