Scottish Women's Premier League
The Scottish Women's Premier League is the highest level of league competition in women's football in Scotland. The league consists of two divisions, SWPL 1 and SWPL 2, each with eight teams and is owned and managed by Scottish Women's Football. The league was formed in 2002 when the Premier Division of the Scottish Women's Football League broke away to form the SWPL. Initially operating as a single division of twelve teams, the current format was introduced in 2015 with the creation of SWPL 2.
The champions and runners-up of SWPL 1 qualify directly for the Round of 32 of the UEFA Women's Champions League. From 2009 to 2020 the league operated a summer season, running from March to November each year. After the coronavirus pandemic forced the 2020 season to be curtailed, the league reverted back to a winter format in 2020-21.
History
The Scottish Women's Football League was formed in 1999. In 2002, its top division broke away to form the Scottish Women's Premier League, with the aim of introducing a more professional attitude and increasing media interest. The twelve founder members of the SWPL were Ayr United, Cove Rangers, Dundee, Giulianos, Glasgow City, Hamilton Academical, Hibernian, Inver-Ross, F.C. Kilmarnock, Lossiemouth, Raith Rovers and Shettleston.Since 2018 the league has been sponsored by the Scottish Building Society.
Format
Up until 2011 teams played each other twice.From season 2012, the 12 teams in the league will play each other once before the league splits into a top 6 and bottom 6 based on the league positions at that stage. The top 6 then play each other home and away for the Premier League title, while the bottom 6 play each other home and away to avoid being relegated. After the season is complete, the teams which finish in positions 11 and 12 were relegated to the Scottish Women's First Division.
In 2016 a new format was established. From then on the Premier League will consist of two levels of eight teams each. They are named SWPL 1 and SWPL 2. Teams will play each other three times, with the bottom placed team being relegated to the SWPL 2 after the season. The split into a championship and relegation group is discontinued. The SWPL 2 uses the same format, however there is one promotion to the SWPL 1 and the two last placed teams are relegated to the SWFL 1 divisions.
2020–21 teams
SWPL 1
| Team | Location | Home ground | Capacity | 2019 position |
| Celtic | Glasgow | K Park Training Academy, East Kilbride | 1,000 | 3rd |
| Forfar Farmington | Forfar | Station Park | 6,777 | 7th |
| Glasgow City | Glasgow | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 1st |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Oriam | 1,000 | 1st in SWPL 2 |
| Hibernian | Edinburgh | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 2nd |
| Motherwell | Motherwell | Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility | 1,000 | 6th |
| Rangers | Glasgow | Rangers Training Centre, Govan | 500 | 4th |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 5th |
SWPL 2
Champions
In 2009 the season was changed from an autumn-spring format to a summer league. As a result, the 2009 season was shortened to fit after the 2008–09 season. The format was changed a number of times. The format with two groups after the first half of the season that way played since 2012 has ended in 2016 with the new SWPL 1. The former Premier League champions are: Due to the coronavirus pandemic the 2020 was declared null and void, and the league reverted back to a winter format in 2020-21.| Team | Titles | R-Up |
| Glasgow City | 14 | 3 |
| Hibernian | 3 | 8 |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 0 |
| Spartans | 0 | 2 |
| Celtic | 0 | 2 |
| Forfar Farmington | 0 | 1 |
| Rangers | 0 | 1 |