The WPLL marks the beginning of a new era in professional women’s football in England

The two main leagues in English women’s football have officially split from the English Football Association and formed the independent Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd (WPLL).

In a move reminiscent of the men’s top division split from the Football League in 1992 to form the independent Premier League, the WPLL will take over all aspects of professional women’s football in England. Known for months as NewCo, the WPLL will be rebranded again in the near future, but the current focus is to be up and running in time for the new season next month.

Last year, the 24 teams in the top two divisions of English women’s football – the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship – voted unanimously to form a new, independent organisation focused solely on the development and marketing of women’s football. The two leagues – founded in 2011 and 2014 respectively – were previously run by the English Football Association (FA).

Each of the 24 clubs will act as shareholders in the new entity, which WPLL says “aims to drive growth and maximize potential, with players and fans at its core.” Despite a season of record attendance, they insist they will not prioritize short-term revenue, stating that “it is imperative to invest in infrastructure and resources before generating revenue to begin this transformation process and ensure long-term sustainability and growth.”

The WPLL is led by Canadian Nikki Doucet, who was named CEO of the company previously known as NewCo in November 2023. Doucet previously served as an executive for Citibank and Nike and was criticized for comparing women’s soccer to the Glastonbury festival in terms of its inclusivity and openness, which was seen as undermining the competitive nature of the sport.

She has also described the sport as a “start-up” venture, with all ideas being explored as “the venture will encourage a test and learn approach to drive ambition, progression and adaptability.” To that end, the new WPLL will initially be funded by “a collaboration and funding agreement” with the men’s Premier League, which includes an interest-free $25.7 million (£20 million) loan “to build strong foundations and invest in areas such as recruitment and development of long-term projects.”

This is in addition to the $26.9 million (£21 million) the Premier League has invested in developing women’s and girls’ football between 2022 and 2025. Until the start-up loan is repaid, the Premier League will retain a seat on the WPLL board. During this indefinite period, the Premier League will provide support and knowledge sharing relating to broadcasting, advertising and football operations.

“This is a pivotal moment in the development of professional women’s football in England,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, “and we are delighted to be able to support Women’s Professional Leagues Limited both financially and by providing expertise in a number of key areas.”

“The Premier League is proud to support football at all levels and over the last few years we have increased our support for women’s and girls’ football. This ranges from investing in developing career pathways for young players to supporting the professional game. We look forward to being closely involved in this exciting time for women’s football.”

However, the FA will not give up control completely. It will also retain a seat on the board due to its so-called “special share”. This gives the governing body of football certain rights, including the right to share in the revenue from competitions once certain thresholds are reached. The FA will reinvest these revenues in grassroots projects for women’s and girls’ football.

At the registration of the WPLL at Companies House in London, Doucet said: “The next successful era of professional women’s football will be built on the foundations of collaboration and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to drive transformative and sustainable growth in our leagues, leveraging the special qualities, values ​​and principles that exist in the women’s game.”

“Women’s football in England has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, characterised by increased fan engagement, increasing attendances at matches and a rise in participation at all levels. We are determined to build on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape that prioritises player welfare and development, encourages and excites a vibrant fanbase and supports the growth of the sport.”

With the split and the formation of an independent company, women’s football has changed completely in half a century. After being banned from English Football League stadiums in 1921 and the FA deeming it “totally unsuitable for women”, modern women’s football was run by the Women’s Football Association (WFA) from 1969 onwards.

At the time, the WFA was not only independent of the FA, but also had few supporters in English sport. It was officially dissolved in 1993 when the FA – recognising the commercial potential of women’s football – took over the running of the Women’s FA Cup and renamed the national league founded by the WFA two years earlier.

Unlike then, the WPLL will have the support of all stakeholders in football, which is home to the sport’s European championship team for the first time. They understand that collaboration between the men’s and women’s game – rather than divisive point-scoring – is fundamental to success, stating: “We believe in the power of partnerships to drive innovation and progress.”

Doucet concluded: “As we embark on this exciting journey, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the FA for their outstanding work in developing the sport. We look forward to building on these solid foundations and taking professional women’s football in England to unprecedented levels.”