Jess Jonassen has been ruled out of the entire WBBL 2026-27 season after receiving medical advice to rest a hip complaint and return to action in the new year. The Brisbane Heat confirmed the news ahead of their opening fixture, leaving the club without their most experienced bowler for the full competition.
Brisbane Heat are now in negotiations to bring in an international player as cover and expect to finalise that signing before their first game, a home match against the Sydney Sixers on October 30. Jonassen drew on her experience from the previous season when explaining the decision.
"Last year I was managing a shoulder injury and tried to play through until it got too much for me and was having an effect on both my own and the team's performances, as well as my mental health. The plan is to be back training in December and be ready to play again in our next WNCL fixture," said Jonassen as quoted by Crcinfo.
Jonassen last turned out in a WNCL fixture for Queensland at the start of October. Her next scheduled WNCL appearance is on January 4, which aligns with the recovery timeline set by her medical team.
The timing of the injury also has implications beyond the WBBL. The WPL auction is scheduled for October 28 in India, where Jonassen had been expected to attract significant interest and a substantial bid.
Why has Jonassen chosen to sit out rather than manage the injury?
Medical advice was the deciding factor. After her experience managing a shoulder complaint through the previous season, Jonassen and the Heat agreed that attempting to play through the hip problem was not a viable option this time. The advice given was for a defined period of rest, which rules her out for the remainder of the WBBL 2026-27 campaign. Heat coach Mark Sorell confirmed the club's position on the matter.
"We're obviously pretty devastated for JJ. We'll lean into her experience around the group while she recovers and it will be a good chance for us to work with her around our match day planning," said Sorell.
The Heat had also confirmed Catherine White as their final squad signing on Monday, a pace bowler who was added before the Jonassen news emerged.
What does Jonassen's absence mean for Brisbane Heat's WBBL campaign?
Jonassen is the most capped player in WBBL history and has represented the Heat in every season from 2015-16 through to 2025-26. Across those 153 appearances, she has taken 184 wickets, a figure that stands as the highest by any player for a single team across both the men's and women's Big Bash competitions.
The Heat's opening game is at home against the Sydney Sixers on October 30, and the club is working against a tight deadline to confirm an international replacement before that fixture. The identity of the replacement has not yet been announced, with negotiations still ongoing as of October 26, 2026.
Jonassen's return to training is planned for December, with the January 4 WNCL fixture serving as the target for her competitive comeback. The Heat will look to draw on her knowledge and planning input from the sidelines during the WBBL 2026-27 season.
