English women's football - possibly the most confusing worldwide in terms of the names and structure they give their leagues.
So you thought (as I did) that the "English Women's Premier League" would be the top league?
Oh, no, it's way more complicated than that due to the many chops and changes they've had in recent years....
With five Kiwis playing professionally in England, here's an explanation of the structure:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_football_i...
"The national league system in women's football in England is currently operated by The FA, with the Women's Super League at the top. For its first three seasons (2011–2013), the WSL was operated on a licence system with no promotion or relegation, similar to the system used in rugby league's Super League. The WSL replaced the FA Women's Premier League at the top of the system.[27] Its ten teams also compete for the Continental Cup.[28]
Beneath the WSL there are ten teams in WSL2 (women's equivalent of the Championship in men's football)
Beneath that is the Women's Premier League which is divided into six leagues over two divisions: the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division sits above four Division One leagues. Teams in these two divisions compete in the Premier League Cup.
Below the Premier League are eight regional leagues. Below the regional leagues are the county leagues."
Kiwis Playing Professionally in England:
Amongst those ten teams at the top are Reading and Everton. Reading who have Anna Green in their ranks and Everton who have Olivia Chance. Two kiwis there playing at the top and while there are none in WSL2, the WPL Southern will feature Kiwis Beth Weller (Charlton) and Rosie Missen (West Ham) with Laura Merrin (Fylde Ladies) playing in the WPL North.
For the first time this season, to align with men's profesional football, the WSL started in late September, while the WPL kicked off in August.
January 6: ANNA GREEN – READING & OLIVIA CHANCE – EVERTON (ENGLISH SUPER LEAGUE)
http://theniche-cache.com/football/2018/1/9/flying...
"Slowly but surely we’re getting back into all these things and the English Super League resumed this weekend too. Not much to say for Anna Green who was an unused sub as Reading were beaten 5-2 by first-placed Manchester City. They did pull it back to 2-2 but then Izzy Christiansen scored almost immediately and it didn’t get any closer.
Everton also lost but they did at least give Liv Chance a dozen or so minutes to impress at the end as they pushed for a leveller. Bristol City had taken a 2-0 lead thanks to teenaged forward Lauren Hemp (England’s Young Player of the Year for 2017) but Courtney Sweetman-Kirk could’ve equalised in the middle there and after Georgia Brougham pulled a scrappy one back they gave it a good go at the comeback. Didn’t happen though, Bristol City leapfrogging the Toffess on the ladder instead."