The Samoa women's national cricket team, nicknamed the Nafanua, represents Samoa in international women's cricket. It is organised by the game's governing body in the country, the Samoa International Cricket Association (SICA).

Although women's cricket has a long history in Samoa, the national team was only formally organised in 2010, with assistance from a New Zealand association, Auckland Cricket.(15 March 2012). "Samoan women preparing for big challenge" – Auckland Cricket. Retrieved 30 June 2015. The team has often included Samoan expatriate players based in Australia and New Zealand (including some who have played for state or provincial teams), which has presented difficulties in training.(23 April 2014). "Samoa target top two finish in Japan" – ICC East Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Samoa's first regional tournament came later in 2010, and it has since regularly participated in ICC East Asia-Pacific events, generally ranking behind only Japan and Papua New Guinea in the region. The women's team's most notable achievement has been winning the gold medal in the women's tournament at the 2015 Pacific Games. The team is currently coached by Ian West, an Englishman who gained Samoan citizenship through his wife, and subsequently played for the Samoan men's team.Lauren Priestley (30 January 2013). "Developing Samoan cricket" – East & Bays Courier. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

In April 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted full Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Samoa women and another international side since 1 July 2018 have the full WT20I status.

History

Cricket has been played in Samoa since the 19th century, when it was introduced by British traders and missionaries. It flourished despite a ban during the period of the German protectorate, from 1900 to 1914. Historically, the sport has been most popular when played under the modified rules known as kilikiti. However, since the early 2000s, when Samoa gained affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its men's national team debuted internationally (in 2000 and 2001, respectively), the standard form of cricket has begun to replace kilikiti in popularity.Andy Bull (27 January 2010). "Cricket in Samoa: It's just not kilikiti" – The Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

The Samoan women's team played its first international matches in February 2010, when Fiji toured to play a three-match series at Apia's Faleata Oval (in the Tuanaimato area).Other women's matches played by Samoa Women – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June. Fiji were also playing their first internationals.(15 January 2010). "National Women's Team Selected For Samoa Challenge Series" – Cricket Fiji. Retrieved 30 June 2015. A major impetus for the establishment of a woman's team was its status as a requirement for associate membership of the ICC, to which SICA aspires. Samoa, captained by Perelini Mulitalo, went on to win the series 3–0,(6 February 2010). "Samoa clinch women's series 3-0" – ICC East Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 30 June 2015. and consequently qualified as the third team (after Japan and Papua New Guinea) for the 2010 EAP Trophy in Japan, the team's first major tournament.(5 February 2010). "Samoa win series with 2-0 lead in Women’s Challenge" – Oceania Sport Information Centre. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

Samoa went on to lose all three of its matches at the EAP Trophy, a 50-over tournament, with their closest game being a 12-run loss to Japan in the qualifying final.Japan Women v Samoa Women, Women's East Asia-Pacific Trophy 2010 (Qualifying Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Their captain there was Mindy Hodgson, a former representative of the Wellington Blaze in New Zealand domestic cricket.Mindy Hodgson – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015. However, the Samoans were more successful at their next regional tournament, the 2012 EAP Women's Championship in Port Vila, Vanuatu. That tournament was played using the Twenty20 format, with the winner progressing to the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier in Ireland).(30 April 2012). "Squads Named For Women's ICC EAP T20 Championship" – Cricket World. Retrieved 30 June 2015. The three teams from the 2010 tournament were joined by the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Samoa won all of its group-stage matches (played only against the three newcomers),ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 table – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015. but lost in the semi-final against Papua New Guinea, eventually placing third after defeating Vanuatu in the third-place playoff.ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

At the 2014 EAP Women's Championship in Japan (a qualifier for the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier), Samoa again placed third after losing a semi-final to Papua New Guinea, with their opponent in the third-place playoff being the Cook Islands. The team's tournament was marked by several instances of individual brilliance, most notably an innings of 104 (off 74 balls) by Moelagi Tuilagi in the playoff, the first century in an EAP Twenty20 event.(12 May 2014). "Sport: PNG Lewas win EAP Women's Trophy" – Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Samoa's captain, Auckland Hearts player Regina Lili'i, was named both player of the tournament and captain of the team of the tournament.(13 May 2014). "Sport: Samoa captain Lili'I named player of tournament" – Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2015. Lili'i was one of three Samoan players with experience in the New Zealand State League, the others being Hana Mauafu (Canterbury Magicians) and Madeleine Chapman (Wellington Blaze).(13 March 2014). "Samoan women head to Japan for qualifying" – Auckland Cricket. Retrieved 30 June 2015. , one unofficial ranking system placed Samoa 27th in the world, behind Kenya.Shane Booth. Women's One Day International Ratings – Shane's Cricket Ratings. Retrieved 30 June 2015. In July 2015, Samoa won the gold medal in the women's tournament at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, becoming the first country outside of Papua New Guinea to win gold in Pacific Games cricket.(27 June 2015). "Fiji, Samoa ready for games challenge" – The Fiji Times. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Samoa were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier regional group, alongside seven other teams.

Tournament history ICC Women's ODI World Cup

Women's Cricket World Cup recordsHostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 1973 Did not qualify/No Women's ODI status 1978 1982 1988 1993 1997 2000 2005 2009 2013 2017 2022 2025Total0/130 Titles00000 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier records HostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2003Did not qualify/No ODI status 2008 2011 2017 2021 2025Total0/60 Title00000 ICC Women's World T20

Twenty20 World Cup recordsHostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2009 Did not qualify 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2023 2024 2026To be determined Total0/90 Titles00000 ICC Women's Twenty20 Global Qualifier ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier recordsHostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2013Did not qualify 2015 2018 2019 2022 2024 2026Total0/70 Titles00000 Cricket at Summer Olympics Games Cricket at Summer Olympics records HostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2028To be determined 2032Total–0 Title00000

ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy recordsHostYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2027To be determined 2031Total–0 Title00000

EAP Women's Championship EAP Women's Championship recordsHost/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2010Women's East Asia-Pacific Trophy 2010 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.Round-robin3/3The full information of the tournament have not found 2010ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.Round-robin3/6The full information of the tournament have not found 2014ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2014 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.Round-robin3/5The full information of the tournament have not found 2016Round-robin2/3The full information of the tournament have not foundTotal4/40 Titles00000

Cricket at the Pacific Games Pacific Games recordYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2015Champion1/666000 2019Champion1/476100Total2/22 Titles1312100 ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier East Asia Pacific recordsYearRoundPositionGPWLTNR 2019Runners-up2/654100 2021The tournament had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2023Round-robin5/761500 20256th-place6/853200Total3/30 Titles168800

Current squad Updated on 12 January 2024.

This lists all the players who have played for Samoa in the past 12 months or were part of the most recent squad.

Name Age Batting style Bowling style Notes Batters Fa'aiuga Sisifo Right-handed Right-arm medium Leitu Leong Right-handed Regina Lili'i Right-handed Right-arm medium Captain All-rounders Jacinta Sanele Right-handed Right-arm medium Taalili Iosefo Right-handed Right-arm medium Tuaoloa Semau Right-handed Right-arm medium Lagi Telea Right-handed Right-arm medium Ailaoa Aoina Left-handed Left-arm medium Eleni Vaaetasi Right-handed Right-arm medium Aunoa Iopu Right-handed Right-arm off break Carol Agafili Right-handed Right-arm medium Wicketkeepers Ruth Johnston Right-handed - Francesca Nafanua - Bowlers Ariota Kupito Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast Vicky Tafea Right-handed Right-arm medium

Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Samoa Women

Last updated 15 September 2025 Playing Record Format M W L T NR Inaugural Match Twenty20 Internationals 47 23 22 0 2 6 May 2019

Twenty20 International

Highest team total: 174/4 v. Cook Islands on 13 September 2025 at Albert Park Ground 1, Suva. Highest individual innings: 60*, Taalili Iosefo v. Fiji on 11 March 2025 at N'Du Stadium, Nouméa. Best innings bowling: 6/8, Olive Lefaga v. France on 12 March 2025 at N'Du Stadium, Nouméa.

Most T20I runs for Samoa Women PlayerRunsAverageCareer spanRegina Lili'i 530 33.12 2019–2024Taalili Iosefo 378 15.12 2019–2025Fa'aiuga Sisifo 242 12.10 2019–2025Jacinta Sanele 232 8.92 2022–2025Kolotita Nonu 200 12.50 2019–2025

Most T20I wickets for Samoa Women PlayerWicketsAverageCareer spanTaalili Iosefo 47 12.46 2019–2025Lagi Telea 40 9.52 2019–2024Ailaoa Aoina 28 12.39 2022–2025Jacinta Sanele 23 19.04 2022–2025Olive Lefaga 18 10.77 2025–2025

T20I record versus other nations

Records complete to WT20I #2513. Last updated 15 September 2025. Opponent M W L T NR First match First win ICC Associate members 3 3 0 0 0 7 September 2023 7 September 2023 11 7 3 0 1 6 May 2019 6 May 2019 1 1 0 0 0 12 March 2025 12 March 2025 2 1 1 0 0 7 May 2019 7 May 2019 3 1 2 0 0 7 May 2019 7 May 2019 13 3 10 0 0 10 May 2019 11 July 2019 1 1 0 0 0 9 September 2025 9 September 2025 13 6 6 0 1 9 May 2019 9 May 2019

See also List of Samoa women Twenty20 International cricketers

References