The New Zealand Women's National League, known as the Dettol Women's National League for sponsorship reasons (and formerly the National Women's League), is the top-level professional women's football (soccer) league in New Zealand. The teams were run by regional federations until 2021, when New Zealand Football started to move to club-based football.
History
The National League was founded in 2002 and ran until a hiatus at the end of 2007. The league resumed in 2009 with five federations participating, as well as the national women's under-19 team development squad. As of 2024, the league has eight teams, one run by each federation.
The league ran in a pure round-robin format in 2002 and 2003. Playoffs started in 2004, with the second and third-placed teams competing in a one-legged semi-final. The winner of that and the first-place team then played in the Grand Final to decide the overall champion.
Following a hiatus in 2009, the league was divided into two divisions—a Northern Conference and a Southern Conference, each comprising four teams. At the end of the season, semi-finals were held, where the winner of each division played against the runner-up of the other division. The victorious teams then competed in the Grand Final. However, in 2013, the league reverted to its previous format.
From 2010 to 2014, the league was held in the summer, in contrast to previous seasons, which were held in the winter. During this period, the league was restricted to players under the age of 20, making it a national women's youth league. The restrictions were lifted in 2015, and since then, the league has been an unrestricted women's league.
New Zealand Football looked to move the National Women's League to a club-based competition (similar to the men's competition) by 2020. The governing body also hoped to expand the number of games each federation plays in 2018.
Participants Current 4 teams from the Northern Regional League: Auckland United Eastern Suburbs Ellerslie Western Springs Central Football (as "Central Soccer" until 2007) (2002–2007, 2010–) Capital Football (as "Capital Soccer" until 2006) (2002–) Canterbury United Pride (as "Mainland Soccer" (2002–2005), "Mainland Pride" (2006–2007, 2010–), and "Mainland Football" (2009)) (2002–) Southern United (as "Soccersouth" until 2007) (2002–) Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Former Auckland Under-20 Development (2010–2011) Auckland Football (2002–2020) New Zealand Football Development (2005–2006, 2009, 2014–2016 This comprised the national under-19 team (2005), national under-18 team (2006, 2014–2016), and national under-17 team (2009). Although New Zealand Development competed from 2005, they were ineligible to take part in the semifinals and final until the 2009 season. Northern Lights (as "North Harbour" until 2007 and then Northern Football until 2010) (2002–2007, 2010–2020) Northern Region Development (2011–2013) WaiBOP United (2002–2020) Young Ferns (2013–2014)
List of champions A list of National League champion teams: Year Champion Runner up Score Venue 2002 Auckland (1) Mainland Soccer Season decided on league standings 2003 Auckland (2) Capital Soccer 2004 Capital Soccer (1) Auckland* 2–1 Unknown 2005 Auckland (3) Capital Soccer* 4–2 Newtown Park, Wellington 2006 Auckland* (4) Capital Soccer 3–1 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland 2007 Auckland* (5) Capital Football 3–1 Newtown Park, Wellington 2008 No competition 2009 Auckland* (6) Capital Football 5–1 Bayer Growers Stadium, Pukekohe 2010–11 Capital Football* (2) Waikato-Bay of Plenty 2–1 Memorial Park, Lower Hutt 2011–12 Northern Football* (1) Waikato-Bay of Plenty 3–0 Parrs Park, Auckland 2012–13 Northern Football* (2) Auckland Football 2–0 Fred Taylor Park, Auckland 2013 Mainland Pride (1) Northern Football* 4–2 North Harbour Stadium, North Shore 2014 Mainland Pride* (2) New Zealand U-18 Development 3–1 ASB Football Park, Christchurch 2015 Northern Football Mainland Pride* 4–3 ASB Football Park, Christchurch 2016 Canterbury United Pride* (3) Capital Football 2–0 English Park, Christchurch 2017 Auckland Football (7) Canterbury United Pride* 3–2 English Park, Christchurch 2018 Canterbury United Pride* (4) Northern Lights 3–2 English Park, Christchurch 2019 Canterbury United Pride* (5) Northern Lights 1–1(4–3 pen.) English Park, Christchurch 2020 Canterbury United Pride* (6) Capital Football 4–0 English Park, Christchurch 2021 National League season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic; South Central Series won by Southern United 2022 Eastern Suburbs Western Springs 4–0 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland 2023 Auckland United Southern United 2–0 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland 2024 Auckland United (2) CF Waterside Karori 3–1 North Harbour Stadium, North Shore 2025 Auckland United (3) Eastern Suburbs 1–0 Keith Hay Park, Mount Roskill
*Home team for final
Sponsorship On 31 January 2025, New Zealand Football agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with cleaning brand Dettol for naming rights of the National League from the start of the 2025 season.
Media coverage Sky Sport had the broadcasting rights for the first two seasons (including the South Central Series). One game was televised live weekly with the remaining four games free to air on either the Sky Sport Next or New Zealand Football YouTube channels.
In September 2023, New Zealand signed a deal to have all National League games streamed for free on FIFA+ worldwide.
See also New Zealand Football Championship
References
External links Official website