W-League set for launch

Eight teams, representing the seven A-League clubs plus Canberra, will compete in the first national women's league for four years.

All of the leading Matildas from last year's historic World Cup quarter-final campaign are expected to participate in the 43-game competition spanning ten rounds and a two-week finals series ending in January.

With each team having a salary cap of just $150,000 the women will be earning far less than their male counterparts.

With the new professional women's competition in the United States starting next year, some of Australia's stars will be plying their trade in three different countries inside a year, in addition to being in the national team.

Star striker Lisa De Vanna, will make a late start to the W-League with Perth Glory because of her commitments in the Swedish League, will head to the US next year.

It's a similar story for veteran Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock, who will sandwich a stint for Sydney FC between commitments to the Danish and American competitions.

Sponsored by Westfield, the revived women's domestic competition will also benefit from live ABC television coverage of one game every Saturday afternoon.

FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley said the W-League would help improve the skills and match preparedness of the players and offer them more opportunities of high quality competition.

"This is not only an exciting new era in women's football, but it's also another landmark for women's sport," Buckley said.

"The women's game globally is growing in popularity and stature and is one of the few sports available for talented women athletes to represent their country from an early age.

"From a football perspective, the Westfield W-League will help in eliminating a competition gap for our top women players and better prepare them for participation in international competition through the Asian Football Confederation."