National Premier Leagues Women's


The National Premier Leagues Women's, also referred to as Women's National Premier Leagues in some states, are regional association football competitions in some states and territories in Australia, which act as the second tier of the sport in the country below the A-League Women. The WNPL consists of the highest level state league in a subset of the state-based federations within Australia, and is overseen by Football Australia in partnership with participating member federations.
With the addition of Northern NSW in 2022, the WNPL is now contested by clubs from seven member federations: Capital Football, NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

History

In October 2010, commenced a National Competition Review, its main objective being to review the current structure of soccer competitions in Australia, and to monitor and improve elite player development. NSW were the first federation to commence a competition, after a review on women's football in NSW in 2013, which looked at staying aligned with the FFA's pathway for women's football program.
Queensland switched to the NPL format in 2015, followed by South Australia and Victoria in 2016, the ACT in 2017, Western Australia in 2020, and Northern NSW in 2022.

Competition format and teams

The WNPL competitions in each state and territory are run independently by the member federations, with a similar format to the equivalent men's competition - the National Premier Leagues. Teams may be relegated from the WNPL to a third-tier league in the same state, but there is currently no mechanism for a team to be promoted to the first tier of Australian Football, the A-League Women. The number of teams promoted and relegated from third-tier leagues per state has varied over time. The table below details the number of teams relegated automatically from the WNPL at the end of the season and the number of NPL teams which go into a relegation playoff against a lower league team.

Current clubs

Below are listed the National Premier Leagues clubs in each competing member federation announced for the 2025 season.

Honours

Premiers by season

Federations commenced under the WNPL Structure in different years.
SeasonACTNew South WalesNorthern NSWQueenslandSouth AustraliaVictoriaWestern Australia
2014Macarthur Rams
2015Macarthur RamsThe Gap
2016Sydney UniversityThe GapMetro UnitedCalder United
2017Belconnen UnitedMacarthur RamsPeninsula PowerWest AdelaideSouth Melbourne
2018Belconnen UnitedSydney UniversityThe GapMetro UnitedSouth Melbourne
2019Belconnen UnitedSydney UniversityLions FCAdelaide CityCalder United
2020Canberra CroatiaSydney UniversityGold Coast UnitedAdelaide City
2021Canberra CroatiaLions FCSalisbury InterMurdoch University Melville
2022Sydney UniversityWest AdelaideCalder UnitedPerth RedStar
2023APIA LeichhardtBroadmeadow MagicAdelaide CometsBulleen LionsPerth RedStar
2024Macarthur RamsMaitland FCGold Coast KnightsWest AdelaideBulleen LionsPerth RedStar
2025Bulls FC AcademyCharlestown AzzurriBrisbane CityHeidelberg UnitedPerth SC

Champions by season

Federations commenced under the WNPL Structure in different years.
SeasonACTNew South WalesNorthern NSWQueenslandSouth AustraliaVictoriaWestern Australia
2014Football NSW Institute
2015Sydney UniversityThe Gap
2016Sydney UniversityThe GapMetro UnitedCalder United
2017Canberra FCManly UnitedPeninsula PowerAdelaide CitySouth Melbourne
2018Belconnen UnitedMacarthur RamsBrisbane Roar NTCAdelaide CityBulleen Lions
2019Belconnen UnitedSydney UniversityLions FCAdelaide CityCalder United
2020Canberra CroatiaManly UnitedLions FCMetro UnitedMurdoch University Melville
2021Salisbury InterMurdoch University Melville
2022Canberra OlympicMacarthur RamsWest AdelaideCalder UnitedPerth RedStar
2023Canberra OlympicMacarthur RamsBroadmeadow MagicSalisbury InterSouth MelbournePerth RedStar
2024Canberra OlympicMacarthur RamsCharlestown AzzurriBrisbane CitySalisbury InterHeidelberg UnitedPerth RedStar
2025Bulls FC AcademyCharlestown AzzurriBrisbane CityAdelaide CometsBox Hill UnitedBalcatta FC