Chinese Women's Super League (CWSL)
Founded1997 (1997)
CountryChina
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChinese Women's Football League
International cup(s)AFC Women's Club Championship
Current championsWuhan Chegujiang University (3 titles)
(2022)
Most championshipsShanghai Rural Commercial Bank (11 titles)
Websitehttps://women.thecfa.cn/cwsl_2023/
Current: 2023 Chinese Women's Super League

The Chinese Women's Super League (CWSL) is the top level women's football league in China.[1] It was called the Chinese Women's National Football League from 2011 to 2014.

History

The league started in 1997 as the Chinese Women's Premier Football League. The name Women's Super League was first adopted in 2004. During the 2011 to 2014 seasons, the league was renamed to Women's National Football League and discontinued the practice of promotion and relegation due to a lack of available teams and playing talent.

In 2015, the Chinese Football Association relaunched the league,[1] again as the Women's Super League and with an affiliated second division, CWFL. It also gained a title sponsor, LeTV Holdings Co Ltd.[2] The league signed a five-year deal with Spanish apparel company Kelme to provide uniforms.[3]

Investment in women's clubs accelerated after the 2016 season with major corporate sponsors and investors, such as Quanjian Group and Guotai Junan Securities, raising player salaries and recruiting high-profile players from top-division leagues in Europe.[4] This included Brazilian star Cristiane from Paris Saint-Germain to Changchun Zhuoyue,[5] 2016 Toppserien golden boot winner Isabell Herlovsen from LSK Kvinner FK to Jiangsu Suning F.C., and Nigerian star Asisat Oshoala from Arsenal L.F.C. and Cameroonian star Gaelle Enganamouit from FC Rosengård to Dalian Quanjian F.C.[6][7]

Current clubs

Map of China and its subdivisions with the locations of the home grounds of the 2023 Chinese Women's Super League teams highlighted
Guangdong
Guangdong
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic
Shandong Sports Lottery
Shandong Sports Lottery
Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank
Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank
Sichuan
Sichuan
Hangzhou Bank
Hangzhou Bank
Yongchuan Chashan Zhuhai
Yongchuan Chashan Zhuhai
Locations of teams in the 2023 Chinese Women's Super League
Team City/Region Home Stadium Capacity
Beijing Beijing Xiannongtan Stadium 24,000
Changchun Public Excellence Changchun Development Area Stadium 23,400
Hangzhou Bank Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Sports Center 51,971
Henan Central Plains Zhengzhou Henan Provincial Stadium 48,000
Jiangsu Wuxi Nanjing Wutaishan Stadium 22,000
Guangdong Meizhou Wuhua County Olympic Sports Centre 27,000
Shandong Sports Lottery Jinan Shandong Provincial Stadium 43,700
Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank Shanghai Stadium of Baoshan Campus, Shanghai University 10,000
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic Shaanxi Weinan Sports Centre Stadium 32,000
Sichuan Chengdu Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium 27,000
Wuhan Chegujiang University Wuhan Tazihu Football Training Centre 5,000
Yongchuan Chashan Zhuhai Chongqing Chongqing Olympic Sports Center 58,680

Champions

The list of CWSL champions:[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Rick, Oliver; Li, Longxi (2023-01-05). Global Sports and Contemporary China: Sport Policy, International Relations and New Class Identities in the People's Republic. Springer Nature. p. 129. ISBN 978-3-031-18595-3.
  2. Sun Xiaochen (8 April 2017). "Chinese Women's Super League launched to promote women's soccer". China Daily. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. "Spanish Kelme sponsored China Women's Super League". Yutang Sports. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. Qingyang Chen (28 December 2016). "Increase in incomes of Chinese women football players in 2016". Yutang Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. "Cristiane to Move to Chinese Club Changchun Zhuoyue in June". Associated Press. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. Lawson, Sophie (15 February 2017). "Opinion: The money boom in the Chinese Women's Super League is a positive". Vavel. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. Lia, Gianluca (13 February 2017). "Chinese blueprint in women's football". Vavel. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. "China - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  9. "2011 table and results" (in Chinese). zuqiuziliao.cn. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  10. "2012 Standings" (in Chinese). zuqiuziliao.cn. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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