Australian women's cricket vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner has separated from her wife, Monica Wright, in what is described as acrimonious circumstances. The marriage breakdown has become a topic of discussion among the Southern Stars team, many of whom were overseas following their ICC Women's T20 World Cup final victory on July 5.
Gardner, 29, married Wright in April 2025, but difficulties began to emerge while the team was in India for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. A source close to the situation described the atmosphere as "a little bit weird" when Wright visited Gardner during the tour, noting that Gardner did not seem like herself.
Post-Tour Conversation
Upon returning to their Sydney home after the World Cup, Gardner reportedly had a conversation with Wright where she disclosed the reasons for her behavior during the India tour. According to the source, this discussion left Wright "shattered" and "distraught," effectively signaling the end of their marriage. The separation was particularly devastating for Wright, as the couple had reportedly been discussing plans to start a family and had a fertility clinic appointment that Wright subsequently had to cancel.
Gardner is understood to have moved out of the couple's shared home in November. The source claimed that Wright returned home one day to find "everything of Ash's was gone, except for the rings." Gardner reportedly left the wedding rings in their cupboard.
Team Impact
The marriage breakdown has reportedly sent shockwaves through the Southern Stars squad, as Wright had been a familiar presence around the team for five years and maintained good relationships with many players. "Some of them are really good mates, and Monica has a very good relationship with a lot of [players] still. A lot of them are quite upset," the insider stated, adding that Wright had received messages from "nearly all of the girls" expressing their distress over the situation.
Cricket Australia is reportedly aware of the situation. The source claimed that a disclosure was made to Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) when Gardner was appointed captain of the Women's BBL team Sydney Sixes in November, shortly after her split from Wright. She was later made co-vice-captain of the national team at the start of the year.
Gardner and Wright met on a dating app in 2020, and became engaged in April 2024. Cricket Australia's senior communications chief, Richard Hinds, declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail.