Kia Super League 2017: Which team should you support?

Who will garner your support during the 2017 Kia Women's Super League?

If you're yet to decide, then let us help you - check out our guides to the six teams taking part below and the reasons you might want to back them.

Six group games, plus the two matches at Finals Day, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, starting with Southern Vipers against Western Storm on Thursday afternoon (2pm, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event).

Live Kia Super League Cricket

If you're going on last year's form… support SOUTHERN VIPERS

The Charlotte Edwards-led side became the inaugural Kia Super League champions with a seven-wicket win over Western Storm in the final, at Chelmsford. Vipers suffered only one defeat in their six matches - at Storm by eight wickets in the group phase - as Suzie Bates flourished with bat and ball, amassing 232 runs, including 52 in the final, and taking nine wickets with her medium-pace. Only Western Storm's Stafanie Taylor (289 runs and 11 wickets) topped her in both departments.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Danni Wyatt
Overseas players: Suzie Bates (NZ), Hayley Matthews (WI), Mignon du Preez (SA)
Captain: Charlotte Edwards
Last year's result: 1st (champions)

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Western Storm (Thursday, August 10, Southampton)
Loughborough Lightning (Tuesday, August 15, Derby)
Surrey Stars (Sunday, August 20, Southampton)
Lancashire Thunder (Wednesday, August 23, Liverpool)
Yorkshire Diamonds (Saturday, August 26, Arundel)

If you're fond of the Nat-meg… support SURREY STARS

Surrey skipper Natalie Sciver caught the headlines during the Women's World Cup, not only because she was the only player to tonk two tons but also because she played an extraordinary shot between her legs, which was quickly coined the Nat-meg. Sciver has power as well as panache, as she showed in last year's KSL when she cracked 16 fours and two sixes in a 90 not out from 45 balls versus Storm.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Natalie Sciver, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Alex Hartley
Overseas players: Marizanne Kapp (SA), Lizelle Lee (SA), Rene Farrell (Aus)
Captain: Natalie Sciver
Last year's result: 4th

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Yorkshire Diamonds (Sunday, August 13, The Oval)
Lancashire Thunder (Wednesday, August 16, Old Trafford)
Southern Vipers (Sunday, August 20, Southampton)
Western Storm (Wednesday, August 23, The Oval)
Loughborough Lightning (Saturday, August 26, The Oval)

If you can't forget the World Cup final… support WESTERN STORM

England's hopes of a fourth World Cup crown looked slender to say the least when India were 191-3 chasing 229 for victory at a sold-out Lord's - but then Anya Shrubsole delivered the performance of her life. The Storm seamer pocketing 5-11 in just 19 balls and completing a run-out from point to end with match-figures of 6-36 as India were skittled for 119. Storm will be hoping for more of the same from Shrubsole as they look to go one better than last term's second-placed finish.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson
Overseas players: Stafanie Taylor (WI), Holly Huddleston (NZ), Rachel Priest (NZ)
Captain: Heather Knight
Last year's result: 2nd (beaten finalists)

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Southern Vipers (Thursday, August 10, Southampton)
Loughborough Lightning (Saturday, August 12, Taunton)
Yorkshire Diamonds (Sunday, August 20, York)
Surrey Stars (Wednesday, August 23, The Oval)
Lancashire Thunder (Saturday, August 26, Bristol)

If you're an Aussie… support LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

Lightning's 15-strong squad contains three Australians - the top-ranked all-rounder in Women's ODIs, Ellyse Perry, who struck five consecutive fifties in the Women's World Cup, including one against England in a thriller at Bristol, plus leg-spinner Kristen Beams and hard-hitting batsman Elyse Villani. Lightning will hope they can make a similar impact to Dane Van Niekerk last term, the South Africa captain walloping a tournament-high 91 not out against Surrey Stars, from just 64 deliveries.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Georgia Elwiss, Beth Langston
Overseas players: Ellyse Perry (Aus), Elyse Villani (Aus), Kristen Beams (Aus)
Captain: Georgia Elwiss
Last year's result: 3rd (beaten semi-finalists)

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Western Storm (Saturday, August 12, Taunton)
Southern Vipers (Tuesday, August 15, Derby)
Yorkshire Diamonds (Friday, August 18, Loughborough)
Lancashire Thunder (Sunday, August 20, Blackpool)
Surrey Stars (Saturday, August 26, The Oval)

If you're looking for a comeback story… support LANCASHIRE THUNDER

Thunder didn't exactly boom in 2016, losing four of their five games to finish bottom of the pile - the 95-run thrashing at home to Roses rivals Yorkshire Diamonds, in which they were shot out for 71, a result they would have found particularly hard to stomach. Lancashire will look to new captain Danielle Hazell for inspiration, with the spinner having made an eye-catching move from Yorkshire, as well as England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor, who missed the 2016 season due to anxiety issues.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Danielle Hazell, Sarah Taylor
Overseas players: Amy Satterthwaite (NZ), Sophie Devine (NZ), Sune Luus (SA),
Captain: Danielle Hazell
Last year's result: 6th

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Yorkshire Diamonds (Friday, August 11, Headingley)
Surrey Stars (Wednesday, August 16, Old Trafford)
Loughborough Lightning (Sunday, August 20, Blackpool)
Southern Vipers (Wednesday, August 23, Liverpool)
Western Storm (Saturday, August 26, Bristol)

If you like your seam bowlers fiery… support YORKSHIRE DIAMONDS

Katherine Brunt is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet - but she is a fearsome proposition on the pitch! The Barnsley-born bowler sprints to the wicket with a snarl, while she is a key cog for any team she plays for in the outfield with her safe hands and boundary-saving ability. Brunt and Yorkshire team-mate Jenny Gunn notched some valuable lower-order runs for England in the World Cup so if Diamonds skipper Lauren Winfield doesn't smash scores, maybe they will.

Members of England's 2017 World Cup-winning squad: Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Lauren Winfield
Overseas players: Chamari Atapattu (SL), Sune Luus (SA), Sophie Devine (NZ)
Captain: Lauren Winfield
Last year's result: 5th

Fixtures (Sky Live games in bold):

Lancashire Thunder (Friday, August 11, Headingley)
Surrey Stars (Sunday, August 13, The Oval)
Loughborough Lightning (Friday, August 18, Loughborough)
Western Storm (Sunday, August 20, York)
Southern Vipers (Saturday, August 26, Arundel)