New Delhi: Women’s Premier League side UP Warriorz and Jon Lewis have parted ways after a three-year association. Lewis marked the end of his journey just months after leaving his role with the England women’s team.
Lewis took charge of the UP Warriorz when the WPL began in 2023 and made an instant impact by guiding the side to the playoffs in their debut season. That campaign ended with a loss to the eventual champions, Mumbai Indians, but it was a promising start for the new franchise under Lewis’ calm leadership.
However, the 2024 season saw the Warriorz narrowly miss out on a playoff spot, finishing fourth in the points table despite a competitive run. Things took a further dip in WPL 2025, where the team, led by India’s Deepti Sharma in the absence of regular captain Alyssa Healy, ended at the bottom of the table.
A warm farewell from the franchise
After Lewis’ departure, the UP Warriorz shared a heartfelt message on their social media channels thanking him for his belief and commitment to the team through the highs and lows. “You’ll always be a part of the Warriorz Family,” the post read, capturing the respect Lewis earned within the dressing room.
From day one, you believed in us. 💛💜
Through the highs, the learnings, and everything in between — Thank You, Coach Jon Lewis, for leading with heart, calm, and belief. 👊
You’ll always be a part of the Warriorz Family. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/qZpJDyj9Ut
— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz) June 27, 2025
What lies ahead for UP Warriorz?
With Lewis stepping away, the Warriorz now face a crucial task of finding a new head coach ahead of WPL 2026. The future of mentor Lisa Sthalekar remains uncertain, and Anju Jain, who was once part of the support staff, is also no longer with the team.
The road ahead looks challenging for the Warriorz but with a young core and strong local talent,t the team will aim to bounce back under new guidance in the upcoming season.