The A-League's women's A-League will expand from 10 to 12 teams and the number of games from 14 to 22 over the next two years to bring Australia's competition in line with the rest of the world. Western United will join the fray in the 2022-23 season, followed a year later by Central Coast Mariners. This means that there will be a full home and away schedule by the start of the 2023-24 season, which will include 132 games.
The news comes ahead of next year's Women's World Cup, which will be played on Australian soil and New Zealand . The A-League chief executive says it's natural for the nation's best players like Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter to want to pursue their careers in England's Women's Super League or France's Women's Serie A, but will still want the A-League Women's The group offers better options than the lower European leagues. "We have to make sure we make it clear that moving to the second tier in Europe is no better than staying in the A-League Women's League and I think that's a misconception that exists at the moment. "The number of games will certainly be a factor for Australian players to stay A positive reason. "
The move will ultimately bring Australia in line with global benchmarks in terms of playing time and ensure "women have greater opportunities to compete at the highest level and girls benefit from the role models and expanded career pathways this investment creates". "We are just 12 months away from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and we want to ensure every girl and woman in Australia has the opportunity to build and develop lasting relationships with football, the country's most engaged sport. "
The additions of Western United and Mariners follow the addition of Wellington Phoenix to the competition in 2021. It represents a significant step forward for women's football in Australia and not only fulfills the players' commitment to complete 2023 Women's World Cup chief operating officer Jane Fernandez said the move follows the growth trajectory of women's football globally and next year's competition is set for Australia. Women's football brings hope of 'once-in-a-generation opportunity'
The expanded A-League Women's League season is scheduled to start on November 18 this year, with the finals taking place on the weekend of April 29-30, 2023.
