Kia has renewed its commitment as the headline partner of the women’s team of Surrey County Cricket Club for a further three years, running until the end of 2029.
The six-figure deal is the biggest standalone partnership with a domestic women’s cricket team. Alongside proudly continuing as the front-of-shirt sponsor across the team’s T20, One Day Cup, and training kits, Kia will champion women’s cricket and support Bryony Smith’s team. The team is aiming to defend their Vitality T20 Blast title in the 2026 season, during match days at the Kia Oval as well as in front of a global audience across their own and Surrey’s digital channels.
As part of the partnership, Kia will also take Surrey supporters into the dressing room this summer with an all-new podcast, offering fascinating insights from the players themselves and providing a behind-the-scenes look into the world of the Three Feathers. Inspiring the next generation of cricket players and promoting the women’s game remains a crucial aspect of the association between Kia and Surrey, as it has been throughout their 16 years-strong partnership. To bring that promise to life, plans are in place for Surrey players to return to grassroots and meet-and-greet with girls’ teams and deliver cricket coaching masterclasses. To bring young supporters closer to Surrey and offer them opportunities to create special memories that last a lifetime when they come down to cheer for the Three Feathers, Kia will be inviting a young fan onto the pitch to hand the ’Player-of-the-Match’ Award in each of the 12 women’s games to be played at the Kia Oval.
This will be an addition to the bespoke fan zone called ‘The Best Seats in the House’ and the ‘Kia Catch’ that allows fans to win £1,000 by catching a six in the stands – both initiatives have become popular features of the Vitality Blast match day experience at the Kia Oval. Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, commented: “It is our great pleasure and privilege to have sponsored the Surrey County Cricket Club for over 15 years, including helping to raise the profile of women’s cricket.
“Now, we’re delighted to extend our sponsorship to include the women’s team, the largest of its kind in domestic women’s cricket, demonstrating our commitment to inclusion, our shared values, and the sport. Since 2021, Kia’s logo no longer features an oval in its design, yet we believe that our partnership with the Surrey teams and the iconic Kia Oval venue have never been stronger.” Steve Elworthy MBE, Chief Executive Officer at Surrey CCC, said: “Kia has played a trailblazing role in championing women’s cricket in the UK and inspired a generation of young girls to take up the sport.
“Sharing one of the longest brand associations in English sport and now the biggest partnership in domestic women’s cricket, our relationship with Kia is built on a foundation of common values, with promoting and celebrating women’s cricket being a core commitment for both of us. It is outstanding to see Kia reaffirm support of our women’s team, who made us all extremely proud in their debut season by winning the women’s Vitality Blast trophy in front of a record home crowd. We’re looking forward to further growing our partnership during what is an exciting period for women’s cricket in England and Wales.”
2011 marked the beginning of Kia’s cricket journey, with the Kia Oval partnership laying the groundwork for a long-term commitment. This led to early support for England Women during their victorious 2013 Ashes campaign. From 2014 to 2016, Kia deepened its national backing by becoming the official partner and car of the England Women’s Cricket Team.
Transforming the landscape of the domestic game, Kia launched the ‘Kia Super League’, which was the first standalone title sponsorship for women’s cricket in England. Kia further strengthened and extended its partnerships between 2016 and 2020, expanding vehicle support, and helping the ‘Kia Super League’ drive higher standards, new teams, and wider participation across the country. In 2019, Kia broadened its impact at grassroots level with the ‘Kia Summer Smash’; a recreational T10 competition designed to connect community players with the elite game and grow the sport’s appeal.
Kia reinforced its legacy in 2024 by extending its Kia Oval and Surrey CCC partnership through to 2029, making it the longest partnership in the club’s 180-year history. In 2025, Kia then became the inaugural partner of Surrey’s new professional women’s side for its first season before this year sponsoring the team to 2029.