Top 7 Women’s Soccer Leagues in the World

Women’s Soccer has recently grown just like point spread with participants, supporters, and aspiring players all over the world.

Despite the many challenges that Women’s soccer faces, it has risen above the barriers to have some of the most popular soccer leagues in the world of sports. Here are the top 7 women’s soccer leagues in the world.

U.S National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)

About the League

The U.S National Women’s Soccer League ( NWSL) is a professional women’s soccer league in the United States that was founded in 2013 by U.S Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA). The league is run by U.S soccer with each of its teams owned by either Major League Soccer (MLS) or Canadian Premier League clubs.

Some teams are also privately owned by groups of women investors who help cover operating costs. Such costs include; stadium rent, equipment, and travel expenses for players and staff members to attend games played away from the home stadium.

NWSL was formed in 2013, and there are now 23 teams playing in nine cities across America. One team, called FC Edmonton, is based out of Vancouver, Canada.

How it Happens

This league happens every year and usually lasts for seven months, starting from April to October 31st.

English FA Women’s Super League ( WSL)

About the League

The English FA Women’s Super League is a women’s football league in England and Wales. It is at the top of the women’s football pyramid, above the WSL 2 and below the FA Women’s championship.

The league was founded in 2010 as a result of the restructuring of top-level women’s football in England. The teams that currently compete in this league have been promoted from WSL or have qualified by winning their respective Leagues.

How it Happens

Each division has twelve teams playing each other, three times during a season for a total of 33 games per club. Each team receives a home match against every other team, with clubs being ranked based on points gained.

German Frauen Bundesliga

The German Frauen Bundesliga is the top division of Women’s soccer in Germany. The league was founded in 1971 and has been in operation since then. It’s governed by the Deutscher Fussball Bund (DFB).

The best teams in this league are VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

French Division 1 Feminine

It is the top division of the French football league system. The French Division 1 Feminine is governed by the French Football Federation.

The league was established in 1970, with a single group format that was used until 1974. The current president of Division 1 Feminine is Frederic Thiriez who took up his role in 2017 after former president Noel Le Graet stepped down following France’s successful World Cup bid.

How it Happens

The league consists of twelve clubs that play each other twice for a total of 22 games per season.

Japan Nadeshiko League Division 1

The Nadeshiko League Division 1 is the top women’s soccer league in Japan. The league is currently sponsored by Nippon TV. It was founded in 1989.

The league’s name  Nadeshiko is a reference to the Japan national women’s football team. In Japanese culture, ‘Nadeshiko’ refers to a type of flower, normally pink in color, and means perfection.

Australia W- League

This is the Australian Women’s soccer league, which was established in 2008. It consists of eight teams.

How it Happens

The top two teams at the end of each season advance to a knock-out tournament that pits them against one another in a home and away format.

Player to Watch Out

The most notable player to come out of this league is Sam Kerr who plays for Sky Blue FC in New Jersey. She is also the captain for both club and country (Australia).

She’s been named FIFA Women’s World Player of the year several times since 2016.

Brazil Campeonato

The Brazilian League is the longest-running league in the world of Women’s football and has been in existence since 1971. It’s one of the most popular women’s leagues with a lot of fans all over the world.

 How it Happens

The Brazilian League consists of 16 clubs that play each other twice every season, once at home and once away from home. The eight teams qualify for playoffs where they are grouped depending on their position in regular-season play.

The final four teams then participate in the semifinals and finals to get the winner of the title. Some of the best teams are Corinthians and Santos.

Bottom Line

There are a variety of Women’s soccer leagues around the world. Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, it’s worth knowing about some of the top women’s soccer leagues.

The list above will help you know about the most popular and the top 7  women’s soccer leagues in the world.