Major League Cricket (MLC)’s 2025 season continues to build momentum, with mid-season matches on June 22 underscoring its push to establish T20 cricket as a mainstream sport in the United States. Since its June 12 kickoff, the league has spotlighted six franchises engaged in a double round-robin schedule, setting the stage for a July playoff showdown—and signaling a significant chapter in cricket’s U.S. trajectory.
Season Format and June 22 Fixtures
MLC’s third season—branded “Cognizant Major League Cricket”—launched on June 12 with a highly anticipated rematch between the defending champion Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns at the storied Oakland Coliseum. The league expanded its format this year: each team now plays ten matches (up from seven in 2024), across 34 total fixtures, including June 22’s key contests. On that day, two matches took place in Grand Prairie, TX: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs. Seattle Orcas (1 pm local), followed by the Texas Super Kings facing Washington Freedom in the evening.
Venue Expansion: Oakland and Grand Prairie
A centerpiece of MLC’s strategy is its creative repurposing of venues. Oakland Coliseum—formerly home to MLB’s Athletics—hosted nine matches this season, including its first-ever top-tier cricket contests on the U.S. west coast. Meanwhile, the league’s move to Grand Prairie Stadium has proven transformative. Converted from a former minor-league baseball field, this venue now serves as MLC’s unofficial headquarters, hosting 12 regular-season matches, the playoffs, and the finals on July 13.
Investments in Broadcasts and Grassroots
MLC’s surge isn’t just physical—it’s media-driven. Domestically, matches air on Willow TV, with select regional coverage by CBS Sports Network, YES Network, Monumental Sports Network, and NBC Sports Bay Area. International broadcasts extend MLC’s reach into key cricket markets—Sony Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar in India, TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, and Prime Video in Australia/New Zealand. Streaming in India remains a priority, leveraging diaspora connections and fandom.
At the grassroots level, the league benefits from a burgeoning Minor League Cricket (MiLC) system, youth championships, and academy partnerships—mirroring infrastructure aimed at nurturing future talent. Notably, high-profile team owners—such as the Knight Riders Group, Chennai Super Kings, Indiawin Sports, and GMR Group with Satya Nadella—have also infused expertise and visibility, drawing parallels to IPL’s growth model.
Cricket’s Evolution in U.S. Sporting Culture
The league’s progress is part of a larger upswing: cricket’s reach is bolstered by its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the success of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, during which Grand Prairie hosted several matches—including the U.S.’s dramatic Super Over win against Pakistan, contributing over $100 million in economic impact to Texas.
Long a historic niche sport in America—with roots stretching back to an 1844 Canada-USA match—cricket had languished under the dominance of baseball and logistical barriers. However, recent efforts by the ICC, USA Cricket, MLC, and major investors suggest a turning point. As Sivaramakichenane Somasegar, co-owner of the Seattle Orcas, observed: “Cricket become a mainstream sport… It’s going to take decades… the closest analogy is what happened to soccer in the U.S.”.
Looking Ahead to Playoffs and Legacy Building
MLC’s roadmap is ambitious: a 34-game regular season across California, Texas, and North Carolina, culminating in playoffs and the championship finale in mid-July. They’re simultaneously aiming to expand from six to a projected ten franchises in the future, supported by ICC List-A status and growing investment.
Grand Prairie’s central role—hosting crucial matches, finals, and now team headquarters—is set to anchor the league’s cultural growth . With ticket prices starting as low as $20, international media attention, and an increasingly diverse fanbase, the league is positioning itself for long-term relevance in American sports.
