WNL set to expand to ten teams as Sligo Rovers step up

Peamount United lifting the WNL trophy as champions in 2020

A tenth team will be vying for the WNL title next season as Sligo join the League. Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Next season’s Women’s National League will feature ten teams with the announcement that Sligo Rovers have been accepted into the league for the 2022 season.

Clubs will face each other three times and play 27 games next season with the addition of the Bit O’Red to the WNL.

Sligo have featured at under-17 and under-19 level in the Women’s National League and will have a senior team for the first time playing out of the Showgrounds, as announced by the club on Friday.

Rovers become the latest addition to the senior division since Treaty United, Bohemians and Athlone Town joined the WNL in 2020.

At underage level both Dundalk and Cobh Ramblers are set to field teams in the under-17 league for the first time.

"After such a brilliant season, with records broken and new initiatives taking off, it is exciting to be welcoming a new club in Sligo Rovers to the SSE Airtricity Women's National League,” League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon said, in a statement released today.

"Sligo Rovers have a long history in the League of Ireland of being successful on the pitch and progressive off it. I'm sure that they will add that same professional approach to their women's set-up, as has already been seen with their Women's Under-17 and Under-19 teams.

"It is also fantastic to see the EA SPORTS Underage Women's National Leagues continue to grow with Shamrock Rovers and Treaty United strengthening the Under-19 League, while Cobh Ramblers and Dundalk get involved for the first time through the Under-17 League.

"We are looking forward to working with each of the clubs as we set about making the 2022 season just as memorable for the right reasons."