Jess Jonassen of Brisbane Heat ruled out of WBBL 2026

Brisbane Heat have suffered a major blow ahead of the WBBL 2026-27 season, with star all-rounder Jess Jonassen ruled out of the tournament due to a hip injury.

Jonassen has been advised to sit out the entire season and focus on her rehabilitation to ensure she returns fully fit next year. Heat are expected to sign an international replacement before their opening fixture against Sydney Sixers Women at Allan Border Field on Friday.

"Last year, I was managing a shoulder injury and tried to play through it until it became too much for me. It began affecting both my own performances and those of the team, as well as my mental health," Jonassen said.

"We considered whether playing through an injury was an option again, but the advice was to take this recovery period now so that I can be available for the remainder of the season.

"The plan is to be back training in December and be ready to play again in our next WNCL fixture."

Jonassen's absence is a significant setback for Heat. She is the second-most capped player in WBBL history, having featured in 153 matches, behind only Beth Mooney's 155 appearances.

"We're obviously pretty devastated for JJ," Heat head coach Mark Sorell said. "She has a good attitude towards these situations, and naturally we'll wrap our arms around her this week as we prepare for the season.

"We'll lean on her experience around the group while she recovers, and it will be a good opportunity for us to involve her in our match-day planning."

Jonassen is the leading wicket-taker in WBBL history, having claimed 184 wickets in 153 matches at an economy rate of 6.65, including seven four-wicket hauls. She has also scored 2,345 runs at a strike rate of 116.14, with six half-centuries to her name.