Founded | 1989 | , as L.League
---|---|
Country | Japan |
Confederation | AFC |
Divisions | D1: Division 1 D2: Division 2 |
Number of teams | D1: 12 D2: 10 |
Level on pyramid | 2–3 |
Relegation to | Regional leagues |
Domestic cup(s) | Empress's Cup |
League cup(s) | Nadeshiko League Cup |
Current champions | D1: Orca Kamogawa FC (1st title) D2: Viamaterras Miyazaki (1st title) (2023) |
Most championships | D1: NTV Beleza (17 titles) D2: |
TV partners | YouTube |
Website | en.nadeshikoleague.jp (in English) |
Current: 2023 Nadeshiko League |
The Japan Women's Football League (Japanese: 日本女子サッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu), commonly known as the Nadeshiko League (Japanese: なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu), is a women's association football league in Japan.
The Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions that correspond to the second and third levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid respectively. Teams are promoted and relegated between the divisions, and between the Nadeshiko League Division 2 and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season. Prior to 2021, the Nadeshiko League occupied the top level of the Japanese women's football pyramid as well; that level is now represented by the fully professional WE League.
Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fast food (bento) company based in Fukuoka.[1]