The MLC 2025 winners are officially crowned, marking another gripping season of Major League Cricket. MI New York secured the title in a tense final against Washington Freedom, winning by just 5 runs at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. Standout performances lit up the tournament, with Rushil Ugarkar earning Player of the Match and Mitchell Owen taking home Player of the Series for his consistent all-round impact.
With champions so far including MI New York (2023 & 2025) and Washington Freedom (2024), the league continues to grow in quality and fan engagement.
Now the focus moves to the upcoming MLC 2026 season, set for June 18 to July 18, 2026. With the same month-long format and expanding venues, the new season is expected to bring bigger crowds, stronger viewership, and even more world-class cricket talent to the United States.
This article covers every past MLC winner, key highlights, memorable finals, and what to expect from the much-anticipated MLC 2026 edition.
MLC Winners (2023-2025)
Major League Cricket in the USA has had two different title winners. Washington Freedom and MI New York have both claimed the titles so far in the competition after three successful three-year periods.
Take a look at the three MLC seasons, along with their winners and runners-up.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | MI New York | Seattle Orcas |
| 2024 | Washington Freedom | San Francisco Unicorns |
| 2025 | MI New York | Washington Freedom |
MI New York is the most successful team in the USA’s top franchise T20 competition. More seasons are coming. The other teams will update this list, too.
1. MI New York (2023)
Cricket in the USA got a major boost in 2023 with the launch of Major League Cricket, and MI New York wasted no time making history by becoming the very first champions.
Their season started pretty average, and they finished fourth on the points table after the group stage. But when it came to knockout time, they turned it on. They smashed it in the eliminator, bossed qualifier 2, and booked their spot in the big final.
On July 30, 2023, in Dallas, MI, New York took down the Seattle Orcas in style. Chasing 184, they wrapped it up in just 16 overs, winning by seven wickets. The hero? Captain Nicholas Pooran, who played one of the most outrageous T20 knocks you’ll see, 137* off just 55 balls. It was pure power-hitting, and he made the chase look like a walk in the park.
2. Washington Freedom (2024)
The 2024 MLC Champions, Washington Freedom, played the best cricket of the season and finished at the top of the table with five wins in seven games.
In the final match of 2024, Washington Freedom defeated the San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs. This marks the largest margin of victory in the three MLC finals to date.
Washington Freedom secured the win thanks to their captain, Steve Smith, who led the team to another victory like the previous season.
Smith scored 88 runs off 52 balls. A late push from Glenn Maxwell, who made 40 runs off 22 balls, helped Freedom set a tough target of 208 runs for the Unicorns. The Washington Freedom bowling unit was motivated and limited their opponents to just 111 runs.
3. MI New York (2025)
MI New York lifted their second title of the Major League Cricket in 3 years after beating Washington Freedom by five runs in the final match of the 2025 season.
MI New York’s season was like a rollercoaster ride. After having a good start, they failed to capitalize on it and faced some defeats during the middle part of the tournament. But the experienced players within the squad and their performances, including Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, and Kieron Pollard, led their comeback and won back-to-back matches in the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.
They faced the table topper from the season, but outclassed the Washington Freedom after restricting them from chasing a target of 181. Quinto de Kock started the surge for the MI side, and his 77 off 46 helped them post a total of 180/7 in 20 overs.
The chase was seen making some trouble for MI when Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips steadied the ship after Trent Boult’s early blows. But they came out victorious after some disciplined bowling performances at the back end of the game.
MLC Records & Top Performers (2023–2025)
The MLC Records & Top Performers (2023–2025) highlight the standout teams and players from the first three seasons of Minor League Cricket.
From championship wins to leading run-scorers and top wicket-takers, this overview celebrates the best achievements in MLC history.
Teams with Most MLC Titles
- MI New York: 2 titles (2023, 2025)
- Washington Freedom: 1 title (2024)
Top Run-Scorers in MLC History (2023–2025)
- 2023: Nicholas Pooran – 388 runs in 8 innings, HS 137*, Avg 64.67
- 2024: Faf du Plessis – 420 runs in 8 innings, HS 100, Avg 52.50
- 2025: Mounak Patel – 478 runs in 13 innings, HS 93, Avg 36.77
Leading Wicket-Takers in MLC History (2023–2025)
- 2023: Trent Boult (MI New York) – 22 wickets in 8 matches
- 2024: Sourabh Netravalkar (Washington Freedom) – 15 wickets in 7 matches
- 2025: Xavier Bartlett (San Francisco Unicorns) – 18 wickets in 11 matches
MLC 2025 Season Summary
USA Cricket has successfully completed its third season of Major League Cricket as the MI New York became champions of the 2025 season.
The season was no short of excitement and entertaining cricket; the season consistently provided close finishes and top individual performances.
Take a look at the Points table of MLC 2025.
| Team | Matches | Win | Loss | N/R | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSF | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 16 | +0.954 |
| TSK | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | +1.603 |
| SF | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | +1.330 |
| MI NY | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -0.518 |
| SEO | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -1.842 |
| LAKR | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | -1.320 |
MI New York’s Monank Patel is at the top of the runs chart with 478 runs from 13 matches. The USA captain has performed steadily for the champion side.
Xavier Bartlett of San Francisco Unicorns is leading the wickets taken list with 18 wickets.
MLC 2026 Season Update & Announcement
Major League Cricket (MLC) has confirmed the dates for its 2026 season, scheduled from June 18 to July 18, 2026. The league will continue its successful month-long format used in 2025, ensuring no clashes with major events like The Hundred. With growing attendance, rising digital engagement, and expanding venues, MLC 2026 is set to deliver another strong season for professional cricket in the United States.
MLC 2026
| Season | MLC 2026 (Fourth Edition) |
| Start Date | June 18, 2026 |
| Final Date | July 18, 2026 |
| Number of Teams | 6 |
| Total Matches | 34 |
| Venues | Multiple U.S. stadiums, including the proposed LA Olympic venue |
Key Highlights for MLC 2026
- Continued focus on expanding cricket infrastructure across the U.S.
- Strong year-on-year growth in ticketing, audience engagement, and digital following.
- Matches strategically scheduled to ensure top global player availability.
- Plans are in motion for new host venues, including the potential Los Angeles Olympic cricket stadium.
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Conclusion: A strong finish as MLC 2025 concludes with MI New York on top
The MLC 2025 season ends with MI New York securing their second title after a close 5-run win over Washington Freedom, becoming the first team to win the championship twice. Across three seasons, the league has seen rising fan interest, competitive matches, and standout performances, helping grow cricket in the United States.
Now, all eyes turn to MLC 2026, scheduled from June 18 to July 18, 2026. With expanding venues, increasing viewership, and stronger franchise investment, the upcoming season is expected to be bigger, more competitive, and another major step toward making MLC a global T20 cricket force.
FAQs
MI New York won their second title by defeating Washington Freedom by 5 runs in a last-over thriller (June 12–July 13, 2025).
MI New York (2 titles)
Faf du Plessis (TSK) scored the most runs in MLC, 934 runs from 2023 to 2025.
