Teams in FA Women’s Super League (FA WSL) 2 will have double the chance of promotion in 2015.
For the first time two teams will be promoted into FA WSL 1, for the 2016 season. Only one team will be relegated into FA WSL 2, which means that in 2016 there will be nine teams in the top division.
The increase is part of a two-year plan to expand FA WSL 1 from eight to 10 teams.
There will continue to be 10 teams in FA WSL 2 as one team from The FA Women’s Premier League (FA WPL) will be promoted into the league for both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
Last season’s FA WSL 2 champions Sunderland have secured their place in FA WSL 1 for 2015 after meeting off-field licencing requirements.
The FA WSL is the elite women’s domestic football league in England. It was launched in 2011 and a second division, plus promotion and relegation, was introduced in 2014.
Liverpool are the current FA WSL 1 champions with their Merseyside neighbours Everton becoming the first team to be relegated into the second tier.
Kelly Simmons, FA director of national game and women’s football, said: "After the successful introduction of promotion and relegation this season, we had always planned to increase the number of teams in FA WSL 1.
"This year has arguably been the most competitive FA WSL season to date and promotion and relegation has certainly played a big part in that.
"Increasing the number of promotion spots not only opens up more opportunity for clubs but will also help to drive the standard of FA WSL 2 which can only benefit the women’s game.
“We are looking to do the same in the following season so that FA WSL 1 becomes a 10-team league. This will help to sustain the high quality that the league is known for, providing more high quality fixtures for both our elite players and for fans.
“The introduction of promotion into FA WSL 2 also provides opportunities for strong FA WPL clubs to come through the winter pyramid, which will help to strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of both leagues."
The 2015 FA WSL season will begin in March with fixtures to be announced in the New Year.
