
The National Women's League was introduced in a genuine league format in 2002 and is played between representative teams from New Zealand Football seven member federations.
Traditionally, there is one team representing each of New Zealand's seven federations while an eighth team - sometimes based on national age-group squads for upcoming FIFA tournaments - is sometimes included.
Auckland Football Federation (formerly Soccer2) has dominated the competition since its inception, winning the first two seasons via a pure league format and four consecutive grand final wins since 2005. Capital Football (then Capital Soccer) won the league’s first ever grand final in 2004.
In 2009, five federations competed alongside a New Zealand U-17 selection, with the teams split into two pools of three teams. Auckland sealed their sixth title by defeating Capital Football 5-1 in the final.
In 2010 New Zealand Football announced the league would switch to a youth based format for three season beginning in 2011 to consolidate the growth of women’s football and increase the depth of New Zealand's talent pool. The 2010-2011 title was won by Capital Football and in December of 2011 Northern Football etched their name on the trophy for the first time by winning the 2011/12 season.
The ASB Women's Youth League restricts squads to U-20 players with five overage players per squad.

