Connolly joins Unicorns in MLC as he eyes World Cup selection push

Connolly Signs with San Francisco Unicorns in MLC as World Cup Ambitions Grow

Cooper Connolly has signed with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season, marking his first stint in an overseas T20 league.

The 21-year-old allrounder, a left-handed batter and left-arm spinner, has quickly risen through the ranks, making his international debut across all formats for Australia since September. Most recently, he earned his first Test cap during the February tour of Sri Lanka.

Although MLC coincides with Australia’s Test series in the West Indies, Connolly is unlikely to feature in the red-ball squad. However, the five-match T20I series that follows may offer him a chance to rejoin Australia’s white-ball setup as preparations ramp up for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Connolly first made waves in the T20 scene during the 2022–23 Big Bash League (BBL), guiding the Perth Scorchers to the title in just his fourth match. He made his T20I debut last year against Scotland but has been limited to just two appearances due to a thumb injury that sidelined him during the Pakistan series in November.

He returned in style during the 2024–25 BBL, amassing 351 runs at an average of 50.14 and a strike rate of 131.46. His performances earned him joint Player of the Tournament honors alongside Glenn Maxwell.

San Francisco Unicorns head coach Shane Watson, a former Australian allrounder, praised Connolly’s maturity and potential.
“Cooper’s all-round ability will be a huge asset for us this season,” Watson said. “He’s shown composure and versatility well beyond his years — few 21-year-olds have already worn the baggy green and represented Australia in both white-ball formats.”

Connolly’s skillset, particularly as a left-arm spinner, could be vital in Australia's T20 World Cup plans. His recent appearance in the Champions Trophy semi-final against India — where he opened the batting as a late replacement for Matt Short — saw him dismissed for a duck but shine with the ball, removing Rohit Sharma and nearly claiming Virat Kohli before a dropped catch by Maxwell.

He will join fellow Australians Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk at the Unicorns, though availability may be affected by the concurrent Test tour. Last season, the Unicorns reached the MLC final, where they lost to Steven Smith’s Washington Freedom, despite having star players like Pat Cummins in their ranks.

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