The National Premier Leagues Victoria Women, known commonly as the NPL Victoria Women's or NPLV Women's, is a professional women's association football league in Victoria, Australia. It is the highest league for women in Victoria, and has been a part of the National Premier Leagues Women’s structure, and which is administered by Football Victoria. Prior to the introduction of the NPL in Victoria in 2016, the league was known as the Women's Victorian Premier League.[1]
The league is contested by eleven clubs, playing a 22 round season, with the regular season running from February to September. The finals series is contested between the top four clubs, with the top two playing against third and fourth in a semi-final and the winners contesting the grand final.
The initial members of the WNPL were Alamein, Bayside United, Bulleen Lions, Box Hill United, Calder United, Heidelberg United, Geelong Galaxy United, Senior NTC and Southern United.[1] In the following season, South Melbourne was admitted to the league who went on to win the inaugural Finals Series, 5–4 on penalties against Geelong Galaxy United.[2] South Melbourne again made the Grand Final the following season losing 3–1 to Bulleen Lions.[3][4] Despite not being crowned Champions, South Melbourne were successful in the regular season who were crowned Premiers of the 2018 season.[5] This was a feat achieved by the club as well in their initial season in the renewed league.[6] Calder United were crowned Grand Final Champions for the second time defeating Bulleen Lions 1–0.[7] This was after Calder were crowned league champions prior to the finals series.[8]
On the 27th of October 2021, Football Victoria officially announced the league would be professionalised, scrapping the amateur nature of the league.[9]
After the cancellation of both the 2020 season[10] and the 2021 season[11] due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that no promotion/relegation would apply for the following season.
The 2023 season was the first time teams could be promoted since the restructuring of the women's divisions for the 2020 season.[12] Preston Lions FC, Boroondara-Carey Eagles, and Southern United were the teams promoted from the VPL Women's after they finished in the top three positions during the 2022 season.[13]
Brunswick Juventus and Essendon Royals were promoted from the Victorian Premier League Womens for the 2024 season bringing the number of teams in the competition to 12. The following clubs will take part in the 2024 NPL Victoria Women's season:
As of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season). Players listed in bold are still actively playing in the NPLVW.
As of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season).
