Sophia in action for Oval Invincibles Women. Photograph: Alex Davidson (ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

A 17-year-old Monmouth student has signed her first professional cricket contract for next summer.
Sophia, a left-arm spinner, has penned a deal with Western Storm for 2023 and will combine her playing duties with A levels at Monmouth School for Girls.
The Sixth Form student enjoyed an outstanding debut senior season for Western Storm in 2022.
Western Storm, covering the west of England and Wales, is one of eight regional teams that will have 10 pro players funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in addition to England’s central contract stars.
Sophia also finished as the leading wicket-taker for winners, the Oval Invincibles, in The Hundred.
During the franchise tournament, she took the scalps of some of the biggest names in women’s cricket, including India star Smriti Mandhana, Alyssa Healy and Danni Wyatt.
The teenager has also been named in the England Under-19 squad for the inaugural age-group World Cup in South Africa in January.
Sophia said: “I’m delighted to have signed my first professional contract with Western Storm.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play professional cricket and I can’t believe I now have this opportunity.
“We have a great group of girls here at Storm and I hope that we can continue to do Wales and the West Country proud.”
Sophia, who plays for the first team at Monmouth School for Boys and is a member of the Newport club, admits her rise to prominence has happened quickly.
“I had a great summer and people put a lot of faith in me,” she said.
“It will probably be one of the best summers that I’ll ever experience.
“But I can’t get too far ahead of myself because there are going to be times when not everything clicks for me.”
Sophia comes from a cricket-loving family. Her grandfather, Malcolm Price, has coached and been on Glamorgan’s committee, while her mother, Ann-Marie, is a member of the county’s board.
Sophia said: “I’ve progressed through the age-groups with Wales, but I’ve probably played more boys’ cricket than girls’ cricket at club level and, the challenges with that, benefit you so much as a young player. At school, I play for the boys’ first team at Monmouth School for Boys, and they always back me 100%.”