Cricket was not simply a sport that Carmen Coppin and Shannon McKelvey discovered and pursued.
It became a passion that grew through their children, family and years spent behind the scenes, eventually inspiring them to create opportunities for the next generation of female cricketers.

Today, the two women are the leading voices behind the Fire and Fury Women’s T20 League, a tournament launched last year with the aim of growing women’s cricket in Ekurhuleni.

Their journey to becoming advocates for the women’s game, however, began long before Fire and Fury.

Coppin was introduced to cricket when her son started playing. Her daughter, Payton, soon followed, and weekends were increasingly spent around the cricket field. Determined to understand the game, Coppin became involved in team management and scoring.

Payton’s progress through the ranks gave her mother an even closer look at the opportunities – and inequalities – within the women’s game. Selected for Eastern provincial teams from U11 level, Payton went on to represent the Eastern women’s team at just 15.

“Through my children, I discovered what an incredible game cricket is,” Coppin said.

McKelvey’s cricket journey dates back even further. Some of her earliest memories are of accompanying her great aunt to Irene Villagers Cricket Club, where she helped prepare tea and sandwiches during breaks.

Also Read: Fire and Fury Women's T20 League set for bigger, bolder second season

She later learned the basics of batting and bowling at an all-girls high school, before becoming a scorer for her university residence team. After stepping away from the game for several years, cricket returned to her life when her son and daughter started playing.

Soon, like Coppin, her weekends revolved around scoring, team management and supporting her children.

It was this shared passion that eventually led the pair to Fire and Fury.

Coppin is quick to acknowledge that the tournament is still small, but believes its potential lies in the opportunities it creates – one match, one experience and one player at a time.

“We hope to grow Fire and Fury to a point where we can genuinely say that it has made an impact on women’s cricket and on the opportunities available to players,” she said.

Being part of the tournament means helping build something from the ground up, giving female cricketers more game time and valuable experience for McKelvey.

Beyond the cricket itself, the organisers want players to build confidence, make new friends and discover opportunities outside their usual environments.

“I hope they realise that there are opportunities out there for them – and that they deserve to take up space on the field and be part of the game,” Coppin said.

As mothers, both women also hope their children will see the value of pursuing their passions and taking chances.

Their ultimate legacy would be to see Fire and Fury continue long after they step away, with future generations of women keeping the tournament alive.

Knowing they helped create a platform where girls can play, grow and discover that there is a place for them in cricket would be the greatest victory for Coppin and McKelvey.

The Fire and Fury T20 league starts on August 28 and will conclude on September 6.

Also Read: Van Voorst unleashes fire and fury to lead Dragons to victory