BBC Sport looks back at the seven previous Women's Cricket World Cup tournaments.
The White Ferns celebrate victory over Australia five years ago
New Zealand made home advantage count as they defeated holders Australia by four runs to lift the trophy for the first time.
Set a victory target of 185, Australia lost two wickets with only two runs on the board before Belinda Clark revived their hopes with 91.
They needed five to win off the final over with the last pair at the wicket but Clare Nicholson dismissed Charmaine Mason with her first delivery to wrap up a thrilling win.
South Africa and India were the beaten semi-finalist in a competition which saw England win only three of their seven matches.
A new look format saw 11 teams divided into two groups, with Australia, England, New Zealand and hosts India claiming places in the semi-finals.
The first phase saw some astonishing batting with captain Belinda Clark making 229 not out for Australia in a 363-run win over Denmark and Charlotte Edwards scoring an unbeaten 173 for England against Ireland on the same day.
Australia appeared in danger of bowing out after managing only 123-7 in their semi-final, but Cathryn Fitzpatrick took 3-18 as India were restricted to 104-9 in 30 overs.
The second semi saw New Zealand make 175-6 in 50 overs against England, who squandered their opportunity with four run outs as they were bowled out for 155.
Debbie Hockley launched New Zealand's innings with 79 in the final at Calcutta, but tight bowling by Australia saw them all out for 164 in 49.3 overs. Belinda Clark then scored 52 as they made 165-5 to win by five wickets with 3.2 overs to spare.
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP RECORDS
Highest team total:
412-3 Aus v Den, Mumbai 1997
Lowest team total:
27 Pkn v Aus, Hyderabad 1997
Highest individual innings:
229no Belinda Clark Aus v Den, Mumbai 1997
Best bowling figures:
6-10 Jacqueline Lord, NZ v Ind, Auckland, 1982
45 Debbie Hockley, NZ
Australia were toppled after 15 years on top of the women's game as England beat New Zealand by 67 runs to regain the World Cup.
West Indies and Denmark were among eight sides who took part in an expanded competition, in which New Zealand cruised into the final with seven wins out of seven.
They beat England by 25 runs at Beckenham, but the hosts scored a vital 43-run victory over Australia at Guildford after Carole Hodges made 105 not out, one of five centuries by England during the tournament.
Jan Brittin (48) and Hodges (45) were the key figures as England totalled 195-5 in the final and they then bowled out the Kiwis for 128.
Australia completed a World Cup hat-trick on home soil as they defeated England by eight wickets in the final at Melbourne.
Once again, five teams took part, with Ireland and the Netherlands making their debuts in the competition.
England, who recorded six wins in their eight games in tyhe group phase, could only muster 127-7 in their 60 overs in the final with Jan Brittin's 48 not out out the top score.
In a repeat of the final a decade earlier, Australia lost two early wickets before Lindsay Reeler (59) and Denise Annetts (48) saw them to 129-2 in the 45th over.
Jan Brittin: 1,299 runs in 36 World Cup matches
The third World Cup saw a change of format with five teams playing each other three times on a league basis, with the top two going through to the final in Christchurch.
Australia played magnificent cricket to achieve 11 wins in 12 games, while seven victories was enough to see England through.
There were three ties in the group phase, two of them involving England, who made sure of their place in the final with a 113-run win over the International XI.
The final was a keenly contested affair as England made Australia fight all the way to reach a target of 152 for victory. Avril Starling took two for 21, but Australia got home of the final ball of their 59th and penultimate over.
Only four teams were involved in the second World Cup in India as Australia gained their revenge over England to lift the trophy.
Both sides won their first two games against India and New Zealand prior to meeting at Hyderabad in the final game of the competition.
England were restricted to 96-8 in their 50 overs as Sharon Tredrea took four for 25.
Australia lost two wickets at the start of their reply but Margaret Jennings made 57 not out in an unbroken stand of 94 with Janette Tredrea as they reached 100-2 with 18.3 overs to spare.
Enid Bakewell: A hundred in the final
The inaugural tournament was played in England on a round robin basis and it was the hosts who came out on top after five wins in their six matches.
Enid Bakewell made 101 not out in their opening match against an International XI at Hove and followed that with 118 in the final game, which paved the way for a 92-run win over runners-up Australia.
England's only defeat came in a rain-affected match at Exmouth when they lost by 11 runs to New Zealand after being given a revised target of 46 to win in 15 overs.
They bounced back from that by beating Young England by 49 runs at Ilford after skipper Rachel Heyhoe-Flint scored 114.