maybe the top club/clubs should not poach any talent from other clubs which would even out the competition. perhaps a capped based points system done on players that have been through a clubs system having less value than one that appears in the league and move to the top the following year. from my perspective that has happened way to often in the last 15 years.
While clubs can do better, this is an easy answer. As soon as a player shows promise they are whisked off to a 'bigger' club. Teams play WPL one year and then ripped apart the next with too few players of the level required.
Keeping all good players at bigger clubs can help personal development but ends with limited competitive matches.
CUFC have started a womens academy, but these players have just come from other clubs, they aren't new to football and the pool of players hasn't grown, just shifted.