Women's Ice Hockey in Finland

Women's ice hockey in Finland had 2 593 players in 2005 and 4 694 in 2011. The Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja (Finnish national women's league) is the league elite of women's ice hockey. This league is organized by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.

The first league was created in 1982–1983. Several teams of this first Finnish Women's League were established in the beginning of the 1970s. In 1978, the tournament of lipstick became a kind of "unofficial" national women's championship for some years. Finally in 1982-83 began a series of efforts with the new league, Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja. The first season was played in two division of five teams each (10 teams). The first playoffs were at Tampere on March 12 and 13, 1983. For 2004-2005, the number of teams was reduced to 6, until it was widened in 2008 to 8 and 9 in 2010.

The number of young women in the junior level increased slowly, from 500 players at the beginning to approximately 2000 today. The growth rate was not satisfactory, so the Finnish Ice Hockey Association decided to invest in development of women's ice hockey by supporting leagues. The number of teams considerably increased: there are now 12 teams in the Women's 1st Division, NAISTEN I-DIVISIOONA (second level after the Finnish National Women's League).

The following IIHF tournaments were hosted in Finland.