Argentine Championship. Primera División. Women
The Argentine Women's Primera División Championship is the top tier of women's football in Argentina, run by the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Featuring powerhouse clubs like Boca Juniors, River Plate, and UAI Urquiza, it showcases the flair and intensity of Argentine soccer adapted to women's game. Since 2019, it's been a unified national league, boosting visibility and professionalism.
History and foundation
Women's football in Argentina lagged behind men's but gained traction with the first official championship in 1991. The modern Primera División format launched in 2019 via AFA restructuring. Boca Juniors have reigned supreme, clinching three straight titles from 2020-2022. A milestone: 2022 national TV broadcasts spiked attendance by 40%. Notable moments include San Lorenzo's 2021 debut and Excursionistas' disqualification for rule breaches.
Tournament format
The league comprises 18 teams in a playoff system: a double round-robin regular season (34 matches per team), with top 4 advancing to semifinals and final. Runs March to December, pausing for internationals. Bottom two relegate to Primera B. 2023 introduced rules mandating minimum Argentine players to nurture local talent.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.8, peaking at 3.2 in 2022 amid attacking flair. Top scorers: Renata Mazetti (Boca Juniors) with 45 goals over three seasons; Yamín Prental (UAI Urquiza) leads assists (28). Standouts include Boca's captain Yamila Rodríguez, CONMEBOL Golden Ball nominee, and UAI keeper Laura Kerl, boasting an 85% save rate in 2023. It feeds Argentina's national team stars from the 2023 World Cup.