The Chinese Football Association Women's Super League (CWSL) (Chinese: 中国女足超级联赛; pinyin: zhōngguónǚzú chāojí liánsài), commonly known as the Chinese Women's Super League or the 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.
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| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Confederation | Asian Football Confederation |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Chinese Women's Football League |
| International cup(s) | AFC Women's Champions League |
| Current champions | Wuhan Jiangda (4 titles) (2024) |
| Most championships | Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank (11 titles) |
| Website | http://women.thecfa.cn/ |
| Current: 2025 Chinese Women's Super League | |
History
editThe 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
edit
Champions
editThe list of CWSL champions:[8]
- 1997: Guangdong Haiyin
- 1998: Shanghai Yuandong
- 1999: Beijing Chengjian
- 2000: Shanghai STV Youlizi
- 2001: Shanghai STV
- 2002: Beijing Chengjian
- 2003: Shanghai STV
- 2004: Shanghai STV
- 2005: Shanghai STV
- 2006: Shanghai STV
- 2007: Tianjin Huisen
- 2008: Dalian Shide
- 2009: Jiangsu Huatai
- 2010: Shanghai STV
- 2011: Team Shanghai[9]
- 2012: Dalian Shide[10]
- 2013: Dalian Aerbin
- 2014: Team Shanghai
- 2015: Shanghai Guotai Jun'an
- 2016: Dalian Quanjian
- 2017: Dalian Quanjian
- 2018: Dalian Quanjian
- 2019: Jiangsu Suning
- 2020: Wuhan Jianghan University
- 2021: Wuhan Jianghan University
- 2022: Wuhan Jianghan University
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Sun Xiaochen (8 April 2017). "Chinese Women's Super League launched to promote women's soccer". China Daily. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ "Spanish Kelme sponsored China Women's Super League". Yutang Sports. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ Qingyang Chen (28 December 2016). "Increase in incomes of Chinese women football players in 2016". Yutang Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ "Cristiane to Move to Chinese Club Changchun Zhuoyue in June". Associated Press. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ Lawson, Sophie (15 February 2017). "Opinion: The money boom in the Chinese Women's Super League is a positive". Vavel. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ Lia, Gianluca (13 February 2017). "Chinese blueprint in women's football". Vavel. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ "China - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "2011 table and results" (in Chinese). zuqiuziliao.cn. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "2012 Standings" (in Chinese). zuqiuziliao.cn. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
External links
edit- Official website, theCFA.cn (in English)
- League at futbol24.com
- Official Website Archived 2016-10-29 at the Wayback Machine of the Federation (in Chinese)
- Past and current league seasons (in Chinese)