Laura Wolvaardt believes Proteas Women are closer than ever to winning an ICC World Cup

This after South Africa was denied a 50 overs ICC World Cup silverware at the hand of co-host India, who snatched the title by 52 runs in Mumbai on Sunday.

Speaking at the post match presser, Wolvaardt says despite losing the 2025 championship, she believes the Proteas have grown in depth and character in the past three finals.

"I think after that first one I knew it, I think we sort of had domestic contracts introduced after that. So, that's really big for our depths as a team, the last one I think sort of just made us a bigger name in cricket I guess,”  Wolvaardt said.

“I think we are a team that's consistently making finals now, whereas before it was maybe just a one time thing. So, I'm really proud that we were able to reach three in a row.

“I think that shows that we are doing something right domestically and from a squad perspective consistently. So, yeah, hopefully we can keep reaching finals and one day we can win one."

READ: Mandla Mashimbyi sees bright future despite Proteas Women World Cup heartbreak

Wolvaardt led from the front and scored a century which was unfortunately not enough for their 299-run chase - set by India at the DY Patil Sports Complex. 

She says she trusted in partnership with Annerie Dercksen but admits that it did not go according to plan.

"I thought me and Dercksen's partnership was pretty big, I thought we were gonna take it through to the end then she just got out right as we were trying to sort of launch to the back 10,” she added.

“Then I went out soon after. I think we left Nadine [de Klerk] a little bit too much to do by herself but yeah, I think we were riding that game for a lot of it."

The 26-year-old batter wrapped the World Cup as the leading run-scorer, with an overall of 571 runs across nine innings.