A total of 449 players were auctioned on Monday, but only 90 players will find a place in the tournament, with the five franchises buying a maximum of 18 players.
The WPL comes amid growing efforts to expand the women’s game globally and Australia’s Gardner said ahead of the auction that she had dreamed about the event.
“That’s all I’m thinking about,” she said during the T20 World Cup in South Africa.
“I think it’s a huge moment for women’s cricket and to see that the money that has been put into women’s cricket in India finally has a global impact.”
The WPL league will be held in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai from March 4 to 26.