WE League: Japan’s First Professional Women’s Soccer League
The WE Soccer League is changing the landscape of women’s soccer worldwide. “WE” stands for “Women’s Empowerment” and is Japan’s first professional women’s soccer league. The revolutionary federation is committed to being an agent of change for women’s soccer, gender equity, and social advancement.
The WE Inaugural Season
The league consists of 11 teams:
- AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
- Albirex Niigata Ladies
- Chifure AS Elfen Saitama
- INAC Kobe Leonessa
- JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies
- MyNavi Sendai Ladies
- Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
- Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
- Omiya Ardija Ventus
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina
Teams will play a 22-game schedule starting in September and ending in May. Additionally, each team has two scheduled bye weeks. During a bye week, clubs are expected to sponsor activities to promote the league’s mission and vision.
WE League Mission
The WE League’s mission is to “promote a society which allows everyone with a diversity of dreams and ways of living to individually shine through women’s football and other sports.”
To help accomplish the league’s mission, each club must sign at least five players to full professional contracts and employ at least one female coach. The goal is to achieve gender parity. Eventually, each club’s staff will be at least 50 percent women and include at the minimum one female board member.
INAC Kobe Leonessa defender Miyabi Moriya, “This honestly feels like a new start for women’s soccer. Until now, only players at INAC have been able to focus on soccer, but it’s a big step to have that become true for every team. Now that young girls can dream of becoming pro soccer players, we have a responsibility to turn our matches into even bigger events.”
Another unique league feature is the requirement for teams to establish daycare services at their respective training facilities for players with children.
Vision for the Future
The WE League plans to use its platform to usher in long-lasting and wide-reaching change.
According to WE chairperson Okajima Kikuko, the league has a three-fold vision:
- To host the best women’s football in the world. The league is looking to attract and develop the best players and staff. Teams are urged to sign international players to raise the level of competitiveness and professionalism.
- To be the most active women’s community in the world. The WE league prides itself on social activism, equity, diversion, and inclusion.
- To be the most valuable league in the world. Not only does the league plan on being financially profitable but also culturally significant.
Change is on the way, and its name is the Women’s Empowerment Soccer League.
Featured image via Getty Images
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