Women's Central League (New Zealand)
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Zealand Women's Central League (WCL) is an association football league competition administered by Capital Football for women's club teams located in the Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki and Gisborne–Tairāwhiti regions of the North Island, New Zealand.
New Zealand| Founded | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Regions | Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | New Zealand Women's National League |
| Relegation to | Capital Football Women's Premiership or Central Football Regional Women's Championships |
| Domestic cup | Kate Sheppard Cup |
| Current champions | Wellington United (2025) |
| Most championships | Wellington United (7 titles) |
| Website | 2025 Women's Central League |
The WCL is within the second level of New Zealand Football, below New Zealand Women's National League, and is the highest level of club based football available to teams within the Wellington Region and Central Districts of the lower North Island of New Zealand.
Clubs are promoted to the WCL via seasonal playoff through qualification from the Capital Football Women's Premier League or the Central Football Women's Regional Federation League.[1][2][3]
League history
The Women's Central League was launched in 1994.
The league went into recess from 1999 until 2003, recommencing in 2004.[4]
Petone won the first five WCL titles in succession, from 1994 to 1998.
Wellington United won four successive WCL titles, from 2018 to 2021.
In 2024 the Women's Central League was expanded to include 10 clubs.
2025 W.C.L.|Club Locations
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2025 W.C.L.|Home Grounds
| Club | Location | Home Ground(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Miramar Rangers AFC | Miramar | David Farrington Park |
| Moturoa AFC | New Plymouth | Onuku Taipari Domain |
| Palmerston North Marist FC | Palmerston North | Arena Manawatū |
| Palmerston North United FC | Palmerston North | Memorial Park |
| Petone FC | Petone | Memorial Park |
| Taradale AFC | Taradale | Taradale Park |
| Victoria University AFC | Kelburn | Boyd Wilson Turf |
| Waterside Karori AFC | Karori | Karori Park |
| Wellington United AFC | Newtown | Newtown Park |
| Wellington Phoenix - U18 Girls Academy | Lower Hutt | Fraser Park Turf |
WCL records
Past Champions
|
Source:[5]
|
WCL Top Scorer
| Goals/Player | Season | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 35 goals ⚽️
Natalie Olson |
2025 | Wellington United |
| 12 goals ⚽️
Nikki Furukawa |
2024 | Waterside Karori |
| 17 goals ⚽️
Mikaela Boxall |
2023 | Palmerston North Marist |
| 15 goals ⚽️
Renee Bacon |
2022 | Waterside Karori |
| 18 goals ⚽️ | 2021 | Wairarapa United |
| 26 goals ⚽️
Jemma Robertson |
2020 | Wellington United |
| 15 goals ⚽️
Kaley Ward |
2019 | Waterside Karori |
| 13 goals ⚽️
Dani Ohlsson |
2018 | Wellington United |
| 24 goals ⚽️ | 2017 | Upper Hutt City |
| 22 goals ⚽️
Michaela Robertson |
2016 | Wellington United |
| 38 goals ⚽️
Jane Barnett |
2015 | Massey University |
2026
Moturoa withdrew from the competition before the 2026 season commenced, with Victoria University reinstated to the league.[6]
2025
Seatoun were promoted to the 2026 Women's Central League as 2025 Women's Capital Premier champions. Seatoun won the 2025 qualifier against Manawatū Women's Championship winner, New Plymouth Rangers. Victoria University were relegated to the 2026 Women's Capital Premier.
2024
Miramar Rangers were promoted to the expanded 2025 Women's Central League with Manawatū club, Palmerston North United after the 2024 league qualification series. Seatoun were relegated to the 2025 Women's Capital Premier.
2023
Moturoa returned to the 2023 WCL, last playing the 2016 season. Moturoa were promoted to the 2024 Women's Central League after winning the 2023 Women's Central Federation League and Central/Capital promotion playoff against Capital qualifier, Horowhenua Coastal (Te Kotahitanga FC), at the expense of relegated club North Wellington.[7]
2022
Taradale were promoted to the 2023 Central Region Premier W-League as 2022 Central Federation Premier Women's League champions increasing the league participants to include eight teams. The 2023 Women's Central League was won by Waterside Karori for the second year in succession.[8]