Meg Lanning, Megan Schutt, Laura Wolvaardt and Amelia Kerr were the fours players set to join the fifth edition of The Hundred as Direct Signings, which is being introduced for the first time with teams getting the opportunity to rope in players ahead of The Hundred Draft.
India's Deepti Sharma, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, Dani Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, Australia's Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry as well as West Indies' Hayley Matthews were among the several players retained as all eight teams revealed their retentions also on the February 25th deadline.

Teams were allowed to retain up to 10 players from their 2024 squads, including one Centrally Contracted England player and up to three overseas players. A total of 71 players have been retained ahead of the draft via retentions.
England stars Amy Jones, Sarah Glenn, Charlie Dean, Tammy Beaumont and Alice Capsey are among the other local players being retained, while Jess Jonassen, Heather Graham, Alana King and Ash Garnder are some of the overseas players who will continue with their respective teams.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Sophia Dunkley is expected to be retained via Right to Match (RTM), while Issy Wong is one of the biggest names available among domestic players for the draft set for March 12. Here is a look at the retained and direct signings of all teams ahead of The Hundred 2025 Draft: