FA WSL 1
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| Country | England |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
| Founded | 22 March 2010 |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | FA WSL 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) |
FA Women's Cup FA WSL Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League |
| Current champions |
Manchester City (2016) |
| Most championships |
Arsenal (2) Liverpool (2) |
| TV partners | BT Sport |
| Website | www.fawsl.com |
 2016 FA WSL
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The Football Association Women's Super League 1 (FA WSL 1) is the highest division in of women's football in England. The division forms the top half of the Football Association Women's Super League, with relegation down to the WSL 2. It is run by The Football Association and began in April 2011. An initial eight teams competed in the league, which replaced the FA Women's Premier League as the highest level of women's football in England. The WSL 2 was introduced in 2014, bringing promotion and relegation to the league. The bottom team of the WSL 1 at the end of each season is replaced by the WSL 2 champion in the next season.
Through the 2016 season, WSL 1 seasons have run from April until October. There will be no WSL 1 championship in 2017; the FA is changing the WSL season from a spring–autumn cycle contained within one calendar year to an autumn–spring cycle spanning two calendar years. A one-off tournament, the FA WSL Spring Series, will be held in spring 2017 before WSL 1 begins its new cycle with the 2017–18 season.
The WSL champions and runners-up qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League the following season. The current champions are Manchester City, who won their first title in the 2016 season.
The WSL was due to start in 2010 but was deferred for a year due to the global economic downturn. Sixteen clubs applied for a place in the inaugural season of the league: Arsenal, Barnet, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Colchester United, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester City, Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool, Millwall Lionesses, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland. Leeds Carnegie later withdrew their application. Women's Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers and Watford declined to apply. FA Chief Executive Ian Watmore described the creation of the league as a "top priority" in February 2010.
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