Sydney Thunder has secured the signing of South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk on a one-year contract for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season.
This move concludes her association with Brisbane Heat.
The 26-year-old player will be available throughout the tournament, including the finals. She joins Thunder’s roster alongside England internationals Heather Knight and Lauren Bell, strengthening the team as they prepare for the new campaign.
De Klerk debuted in the WBBL in 2020, representing Brisbane Heat in 33 matches. Her most recent season was her best, where she scored 158 runs and took five wickets, earning her the MVP award for the Heat.
In a statement, de Klerk expressed her excitement about joining Thunder, saying, “Coming here was an easy decision. I always hope to make a significant impact, whether it’s with the bat or by taking wickets. I believe we have a really good group and a balanced squad.”
This signing reunites the South African player with familiar faces from this year’s successful Royal Challengers Bangalore campaign in the Women’s Premier League. De Klerk won her first WPL title alongside Bell and Australian batter Georgia Wareham, both of whom will also play for Thunder in the upcoming WBBL season.
Reflecting on her time at RCB, de Klerk shared, “I have great memories playing with Georgia (Wareham) and Lauren (Bell) and lifting that trophy. They are both world-class players. We’ve seen what they can achieve, and they played a big role in winning that competition. Lauren has been excellent with the new ball for the past few years, and it’s remarkable what Georgia has accomplished at such a young age. I’m really excited to be part of Sydney Thunder this year.”
De Klerk’s signing comes after a busy year on the global T20 circuit. Following the Women’s Premier League, she made her Caribbean Premier League debut with Guyana Amazon Warriors after representing London Spirit in The Hundred. She was also part of the South African team that reached the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in July, where they faced England at The Oval.
Throughout her international career, de Klerk has played 87 T20 matches for , scoring 852 runs and taking 64 wickets.