PFF Women's League
Founded2016 (2016)
CountryPhilippines
ConfederationAFC
Divisions1
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)PFF Women's Cup
International cup(s)AFC Women's Champions League
Current championsKaya–Iloilo (1st title)
Most championshipsDe La Salle University (3 titles)
TV partnersPFF TV
Websitepff.org.ph
Current: 2023 PFF Women's League

The PFF Women's League (PFFWL) is the top-flight of women's association football in the Philippines.

The league was launched by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in 2014, with its first season held from 2016 to 2017. It has featured various women's teams including bona fide clubs and university teams.

History

To follow up with the PFF Women's Cup which was launched in 2014,[1] the PFF Women's League was launched on November 5, 2016, by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).[2] The competition became the first to follow a league format following the folding of the Pinay Futbol League in 2013[3] and became the first women's domestic league in the country. The league sanctioned by PFF as an amateur league as part of FIFA's Women's Development Project for the Philippines.[4] Prior to the league's establishment, the primary competition for women's football in the Philippines was the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).[5]

Most of the teams that are participating at the inaugural 2016–17 season were either from the UAAP or alumni teams.[2] The PFF plans to hold a bigger amateur women's league to give more playing opportunities to collegiate players after they graduate from their respective universities[1] and eventually professionalize the league so it can support itself. The league was launched to create a bigger pool for the Philippines women's national football team.[4] De La Salle University were the champions of the inaugural season.[6]

The PFF announced in July 2018 that a second season for the PFF Women's League will take place.[7] The second season followed a single round robin format instead of multiple round robin format used for the inaugural season.[8] This run was contested from August to November 2018. The league's players reportedly are compliant with the MyPFF online registration system of the Philippine Football Federation.[9] De La Salle retained the league title.[10]

The league has not been held since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] A new season for the league was planned to be held from November to December 2022 with eight teams.[13][14] The PFF later clarified that it would be holding the PFF Women's Cup.[15]

There is also a plan to rebrand and reorganize the PFF Women's League to a commercial league after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[13]

The fourth season of the league was launched in June 2023.[16] The league would secure a major sponsor, Coca-Cola in July 2023.[17]

Teams

11 teams entered in the inaugural edition.[1][3] At least for the inaugural edition, participating teams paid a registration fee of ₱15 thousand.[18] Kaya withdrew mid-season. In the 2018 season, there were 10 teams with two being the new additional.[9] The succeeding season retained a 10 team roster, with three teams from the previous season deciding not to enter.[19] Three teams would not play again but Manila Digger would join for the 2023 season. 2022 PFF Women's Cup debutants Azzurri also joins the league.[20]

Winners

Season Champions Runners-up
2016–17 De La Salle University University of Santo Tomas
2018 De La Salle University University of Santo Tomas
2019–20 De La Salle University Far Eastern University
2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2023 Kaya–Iloilo Manila Digger

Individual awards

Sponsorship

Major sponsors

Company Period Ref.
Coca-Cola Philippines 2023–present [21]


Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Stallion Laguna joined as Stallion–Hiraya for the 2019–20 season under partnership with Hiraya which joined themselves in 2016–17

References

  1. 1 2 3 Reyes, Jaelle Nevin (November 6, 2016). "PFF Women's League kicks off Nov. 12". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Estrada, Kevin (November 6, 2016). "OF FAMILIARITY and more | PFF, players and coaches hopeful on the Women's League launch". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Estrada, Kevin (November 6, 2016). "PFF Launches Women's League with a record field". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Montayre, Mia (November 7, 2016). "Historic PFF Women's League set to launch". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ Kwek, Kimberly (February 26, 2022). "Football: Rise of women's game in South-east Asia built on years of hard work". Straits Times. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ Montayre, Mia (October 20, 2017). "PFFWL Roundup: Second round opening win virtually guarantees La Salle league title". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ "PFF President Nonong Araneta reveals exciting times ahead for Philippine football". ABS-CBN Sports. July 18, 2018. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Montayre, Mia (August 25, 2018). "PFF Women's League kicks off Season 2". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "PFF Women's League 2018 kicks off on August 25". Fox Sports Philippines. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ "De La Salle Retains Title After Defeating UST, 2-1". Philippine Football Federation. November 11, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Football: PFF looks to revive Women's League". ABS-CBN News. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ Naredo, Camille (February 7, 2022). "Football: PFF finalizing regulations for Women's League". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Pedralvez, Bong (October 26, 2022). "Filipinas train sights on Cambodia gold". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  14. ↑ Naredo, Camille (October 26, 2022). "PFF set to relaunch Women's League in November". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "PFF launches Women's Cup to reignite women's football development". The Philippine Football Federation. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  16. ↑ Batallones, Jeck (June 22, 2023). "Football: PFF kicks off new season of women's league". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Coke backs PFF Women's League". BusinessMirror. July 30, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  18. ↑ Guerrero, Bob (December 15, 2016). "PFF Women's League leads the charge for Pinay football". Rappler. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Third season of the PFF Women's League kicks off July 27th". ABS-CBN News. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  20. ↑ Basco, Karl Cedrick (June 22, 2023). "FEU out to defend title in PFF Women's League". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  21. ↑ Neil (July 27, 2023). "Coca-Cola announces support for PFF Women's League 2023". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
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