Since March is Women’s History Month the next 3 readings (counting this one) will be on women’s soccer (even though the third one will come out in April).
Many don't know much about women’s soccer leagues, so here is a ranking, with details on what makes each league special.
10. Chinese Women's Super League (China)
The Chinese league has improved slowly from it’s beginning in 1997, and got rid of relegation due to lack of teams and talent in 2011, although this came back in 2015 when the league was relaunched, and the development of the league skyrocketed in 2016 after it gained many large sponsors, and this league will most likely keep improving throughout the years.
9. Campeonato Brasileiro Women (Brazil)
This league is known less then some others across the globe, but interest in the league could got higher when Marta went to Santos on loan and performed great, and this league has a lot of potential as the only South American league on the list.
8. WE League (Japan)
This is one of the newest soccer leagues in the world and is currently still on it’s inaugural season. I have high expectations for this league and I predict that it will eventually climb this list as Japanese leagues in the past have been very successful. While there is a league below this, there will be no relegation for the time being, but teams may be promoted until the league reaches a desired number of teams.
7. Toppserien (Norway)
This league used to contain some of the best names in women’s soccer, as many women’s world cup golden, silver, and bronze ball players participated in the league at these times. Sadly it hasn’t produced as many great players in recent years, although the Norwegian National Team has been getting better, and success on the international stage in women’s soccer usually changes the domestic leagues for the better.
6. FA Women’s Super League (England)
The FA Women’s Super League has the potential to become one of the greatest sports leagues in the world, already with great teams and players, but it is gaining steam as well known men’s teams are putting money into their female counterparts. The main reason why this ranks lower than many other leagues and why it is facing criticism is because many matches are very one-sided, this has come down over the past few years, but 4-0 and 4-1 scores are still quite common.
5. NWSL (USA)
This is the highest ranking league outside of Europe, and a major part of that is because some of the best players from the USA World Cup winning teams from the team’s past two runs play here including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Samantha Mewis, and Rose Lavelle. The league has new expansion teams and is improving rapidly, with help from investors such as tennis greats Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka, plus from actress Natalie Portman.
4. Damallsvenskan (Sweden)
For a long time the Damallsvenskan had the best women’s soccer player of all time, Marta, she won the best women’s player of the year award 5 times in a row (The most wins for 1 player) in 2006-2010, in three of those five she was playing in Sweden, and while playing for 3 different teams from this league she placed in the top 3 for the award 8 times. This league was also the home to the official FIFA Female Player of the Century; Michelle Akers.
3. The Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino (Spain)
Hands down, Spain has the women’s league with best players; this is proved by the fact that the winner (Alexia Putellas) and the runner up (Jennifer Hermoso) of the Ballon d'Or Féminin both play for FC Barcelona, the league’s most successful team, and 6 of the top 10 players in The Guardian's ‘The 100 female footballers in the world 2021’ play in Spain.
2. Frauen-Bundesliga (Germany)
The top 2 are quite close, but the German league could not claim number 1 on this list, yet they hold the record for most UEFA Women’s Champions League wins per country, as 4 different Frauen-Bundeslliga teams have won the title. It is also very competitive compared to others on this list, as the team that has won this league most only leads the 3rd team by 1 title.
1. Division 1 Féminine (France)
This is widely known as the best women’s league in the world, it has some of the highest salaries, which is why it houses some of the best players in the world. It also contains Olympique Lyonnais, who are arguably the best women’s team on earth, they hold the record for most UEFA Women’s Champions League wins
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