Women's Premier League (Singapore)
{{short description|Professional association football league in Singapore}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football league
| name = Women's Premier League (Singapore)
| image =
| pixels =
| country = Singapore (9 teams)
| other countries =
| confed = AFC
| founded =
| organiser = Football Association of Singapore (FAS)
| teams =
| levels = 1
| domest_cup =
| confed_cup = AFC Women's Champions League
| champions = Lion City Sailors (3rd title)
| most successful club = Tampines Rovers / Warriors (4 titles)
| most_appearances =
| top_goalscorer =
| tv =
| website = {{URL|fas.org.sg/}}
| current = 2025 Women's Premier League
}}
The Women's Premier League (WPL), currently known as the Deloitte Women's Premier League due to sponsorship reasons with audit firm Deloitte, is the top-flight women's football league in Singapore. It is run by Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and features seven amateur teams.
History
The WPL started in August 2000 in Singapore.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=4 May 2022 |title=Football: Singapore's Women's Premier League launched, $300,000 title sponsorship with Deloitte |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-singapores-womens-premier-league-launched-300000-title-sponsorship-with-deloitte |access-date=29 May 2022 |website=straitstimes.com }}
In 2004, in a similar move to S.League, the WPL invited a foreign team to join the league. Guangzhou Sunray Cave from China joined the WPL.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2004 |title=Foreign team for FAS women's league |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20040705-1.2.42.5.11 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg |page=42}}
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that the league will be reorganised to form a two-division structure from 2017. The 2017 Women’s Premier League will consist of the teams that finished in the top six positions of 2016 edition, while the new Women’s National League (WNL) will be made up of the teams that finished in the 7th-11th positions, along with any new teams.{{cite web |title=Change to FAS Women's Premier League 2017 |url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/change-fas-womens-premier-league-2017/ |date=24 December 2016 |access-date=22 February 2024}}
Promotion and relegation will be introduced in the new structure. The champions of WNL 2017 will be promoted to WPL 2018, while the last placed team of WPL 2017 will be relegated to WNL 2018. The second-last placed team of the WPL 2017 will play against the first runners-up of WNL 2017 in a playoff. The winner of the playoff will be promoted to WPL 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, WPL was suspended since 2019.
On 28 May 2022, WPL resumed competition and started the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-05-28 |title=Football: Cameras, fans and goals as Women's Premier League hits reset button {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-cameras-fans-and-goals-as-womens-premier-league-hits-reset-button |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=straitstimes.com}}
With the Singapore Premier League transitioning to the European calendar in 2024-25, while the amateur leagues continue to follow the calendar year, the Football Association of Singapore decided to hold two separate awards events from 2024 season.{{cite web |last=Kwek |first= Kimberly |title=FAS to host inaugural Amateur Leagues Awards Night 2024 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/albirex-niigatas-manami-fukuzawa-named-womens-premier-league-player-of-the-year |date=22 Feb 2025 | publisher=The Straits Times}} The inaugural Amateur Leagues Awards Night for 2024 season was held on 21 February 2025 at the SportSG Auditorium (BlackBox).{{cite web |title=FAS to host inaugural Amateur Leagues Awards Night 2024 |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/fas-to-host-inaugural-amateur-leagues-awards-night-2024/ |date=18 Feb 2025 | publisher=FAS}}
On 21 February 2025, A-League Women’s team Brisbane Roar announced that they will embark on their first-ever overseas tour{{cite web |title=Brisbane Roar Ninja A-League Women set for historic exhibition match in Singapore |url=https://brisbaneroar.com.au/news/brisbane-roar-ninja-a-league-women-set-for-historic-exhibition-match-in-singapore/ |date=21 Feb 2025 |website=Brisbane Roar}} to Singapore, under partnership with the FAS. During this five-day tour, they will conducting junior football clinics, community engagement events, as well as an exhibition match against the best of the WPL at Bishan Stadium on 4 April 2025.{{cite web |title=A-League Women’s side Brisbane Roar to play exhibition match in Singapore in April |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/a-league-womens-side-brisbane-roar-to-play-exhibition-match-in-singapore-in-april |date=21 Feb 2025 | publisher=The Straits Times}}
Competition format
Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned league champion. If the points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results between teams are equal, head-to-head records between the teams are used, followed by a better fair play record.
There is no promotion system in the league but clubs with the least points will be relegated. For three seasons onwards from the 2022 season onwards for three seasons, there will be no relegation to the second-tier Women’s National League.
Sponsorship
Broadcasting
Games are broadcast on Deloitte's youtube page.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=28 May 2022 |title=Football: Cameras, fans and goals as Women's Premier League hits reset button |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-cameras-fans-and-goals-as-womens-premier-league-hits-reset-button |access-date=30 May 2022 |website=straitstimes.com}}
Clubs
The following eight clubs are competing in the league during the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-07-22 |title=Football: JSSL, Tampines Rovers to form team for 2023 Women's Premier League {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-jssl-tampines-rovers-to-form-team-for-2023-womens-premier-league |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=straitstimes.com}} The majority of the matches will be played at Choa Chu Kang Stadium with the rest being played at Yishun Stadium and Our Tampines Hub.
| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="width:150px;" |Team !Founded |
| Albirex Niigata (S)
|2022 |
| Balestier Khalsa
|2022 |
| Hougang United
|2022 |
| Geylang International
|2023 |
| Lion City Sailors
| |
| Still Aerion
|2005 |
| Tampines Rovers
| |
| Tanjong Pagar United
| |
| Tiong Bahru
| |
= Former clubs =
- Bishan Arsenal
- Young Women
- Redhill Rangers{{cite web |title=Young Women clinch Women's Premier League |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/young-women-clinch-womens-premier-league/ |date=9 June 2008 }}
- Paya Lebar Punggol{{Cite web |date=19 September 2005 |title=Paya Lebar rule, with help from China |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20050919-1.2.60.13 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg |page=49}}
- Ang Mo Kio United
- Middle Rangers
- Eunos Crescent
- GFA Sporting Westlake
- Warriors
- Woodlands Wellington
- Police Sports Association{{cite web |title=Deloitte Women's Premier League 2024 set to return on 9 March |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/deloitte-womens-premier-league-2024-season-announcement/ |publisher=FAS|date=22 February 2024}}
== Invited clubs ==
Players
The minimum age of players has been raised from 15 to 16. Exceptions are allowed subjected to club's request and FAS's approval. The foreign player quota increased to four from three per club.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=25 May 2022 |title=Football: Women's Premier League kicks off on Saturday with double-header at Yishun Stadium |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-womens-premier-league-kicks-off-on-saturday-with-double-header-at-yishun-stadium |access-date=30 May 2022 |website=straitstimes.com}}
Clubs need to register a minimum of 18 players, with a maximum of 25 players in their squads. Each team will be allowed maximum of nine substitutes per match, reduced from 14 substitutes.
Past champions
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! width="35" |Season ! style="width:250px;" |Winners ! style="width:250px;" |Runners-up !Ref |
| 2000
| align="left" |Tampines Rovers | align="left" |Singapore American School |
| 2001
| align="left" |Tampines Rovers (2) | align="left" |Home United |
| 2002
| align="left" |Tampines Rovers (3) | align="left" |Home United |
| 2003
| align="left" |Tampines Rovers (4) | align="left" |Home United |
| 2004
| align="left" |Guangzhou Sunray Cave | align="left" |Home United |
| 2005
| align="left" |Paya Lebar Punggol | align="left" |Bishan Arsenal |
| 2006
| align="left" |Young Women | align="left" |Paya Lebar Punggol |
| 2007
| align="left" |Bishan Arsenal | align="left" |Young Women |
| 2008
| align="left" |Young Women (2) | align="left" |Arion |
| 2009
| align="left" |Sengkang Punggol{{efn|Sengkang Punggol was a merger between Paya Lebar-Punggol and Sengkang Marine. Currently known as Hougang Utd}} (2) | align="left" |Middle Rangers |
| 2010
| align="left" |Ang Mo Kio Utd{{efn|Formerly known as Bishan Arsenal{{cite web|title=*UPDATED* Women’s Premier League 2008 fixtures |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/updated-womens-premier-league-2008-fixtures/ |date=15 Feb 2008 |access-date=17 Jan 2024 |work=FAS}}}} (2) | align="left" |Middle Rangers |
| 2011
| align="left" |Borussia Zamrud | align="left" |Police SA |
| 2012
| align="left" |Tanjong Pagar United | align="left" |Middle Rangers |
| 2013
| align="left" |Middle Rangers | align="left" |Young Women |
| 2014
| align="left" |Eunos Crescent | align="left" |Police SA |
| 2015
| align="left" |GFA Sporting Westlake | align="left" |Police SA |
| 2016
| align="left" |Warriors | align="left" |Still Aerion |
| 2017
| align="left" |Warriors (2) | align="left" |Woodlands Wellington |
| 2018
| align="left" |Warriors (3) | align="left" |Woodlands Wellington |
| 2019
| align="left" |Warriors (4) | align="left" |Home United |{{cite web |title=Warriors crowned Women's Premier League 2019 champions |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/warriors-crowned-womens-premier-league-2019-champions/|publisher=FAS|accessdate=25 January 2024}} |
| 2020
| align="center" colspan="2" rowspan="2" {{n/a | Competition not held due to Covid-19 Pandemic}} |
| 2021 |
| 2022
| align="left" |Lion City Sailors{{efn|Formerly known as Home United}} | align="left" |Albirex Niigata (S) |{{cite web |title=Lion City Sailors seal Deloitte Women's Premier League title |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/lion-city-sailors-seal-deloitte-womens-premier-league-title/|publisher=FAS|accessdate=23 May 2023}} |
| 2023
| align="left" |Lion City Sailors (2) | align="left" |Albirex Niigata (S) |{{cite web |title=Lion City Sailors seal second consecutive title in the 2023 WPL season |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/lion-city-sailors-2023-womens-premier-league/|publisher=FAS|accessdate=6 November 2023}} |
| 2024
| align="left" |Lion City Sailors (3) | align="left" |Albirex Niigata (S) |{{cite web |title=Sailors clinch historic third straight WPL title by one point with final day win |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/sailors-clinch-historic-third-straight-wpl-title-by-one-point-with-final-day-win/ |publisher=FAS|accessdate=16 September 2024}} |
| 2025
| align="left" | | align="left" | | |
{{notelist}}
=Performance by clubs=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="width:200px;"| Club
! style="width:80px;"|Winners ! style="width:80px;"|Runners-up ! style="width:200px;"|Winning years |
|---|
| Warriors
| {{center|4}} | {{center|0}} | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Tampines Rovers
| {{center|4}} | {{center|0}} | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Lion City Sailors{{efn|Formerly known as Home United}}
| {{center|3}} | {{center|5}} |
| Young Women
| {{center|2}} | {{center|2}} | 2006, 2008 |
| Ang Mo Kio United{{efn|Formerly known as Bishan Arsenal}}
| {{center|2}} | {{center|1}} | 2007, 2010 |
| Hougang United{{efn|Formerly known as Sengkang Punggol}}
| {{center|2}} | {{center|1}} | 2005, 2009 |
| Middle Rangers
| {{center|1}} | {{center|3}} | 2013 |
| GFA Sporting Westlake
| {{center|1}} | {{center|0}} | 2015 |
| Eunos Crescent
| {{center|1}} | {{center|0}} | 2014 |
| Tanjong Pagar United
| {{center|1}} | {{center|0}} | 2012 |
| Borussia Zamrud
| {{center|1}} | {{center|0}} | 2011 |
| Guangzhou Sunray Cave
| {{center|1}} | {{center|0}} | 2004 |
| Albirex Niigata (S)
| {{center|0}} | {{center|3}} | |
| Police SA
| {{center|0}} | {{center|3}} | |
| Woodlands Wellington
| {{center|0}} | {{center|2}} | |
| Still Aerion{{efn|Formerly known as Arion WFC}}
| {{center|0}} | {{center|2}} | |
| Singapore American School
| {{center|0}} | {{center|1}} | |
{{notelist}}
All Stars Game
{{Main|Women's Premier League (Singapore) All Stars Game}}
The inaugural Women's Premier League All Stars Game was held on 4 April 2025 at Bishan Stadium against Australian A-League Women side Brisbane Roar.https://brisbaneroar.com.au/news/brisbane-roar-ninja-a-league-women-set-for-historic-exhibition-match-in-singapore/ Brisbane Roar won the match 7–1, with one of their seven goals coming from Singaporean international Danelle Tan.https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/womens-premier-league-all-stars-draw-inspiration-from-7-1-rout-by-brisbane-roar
External links
- {{instagram| sgwomenspremierleague}}
- {{facebook|SGWPL}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Women's Premier League (Singapore)}}
{{Football in Singapore navbox}}
{{AFC women's leagues}}
{{Top level women's association football leagues around the world}}
Category:Football competitions in Singapore
Category:Women's football in Singapore
Category:Top-level women's association football leagues in Asia