Australia. New South Wales. Champions Tournament. Women
The Champions Tournament for women's teams in New South Wales is a prestigious competition uniting the state's top clubs in a thrilling battle for supremacy. Organized under the auspices of NSW football associations, it highlights the surge in women's soccer in Australia, serving as a launchpad for talents eyeing the national Matildas squad.
History and foundation
Launched in the early 2010s amid Australia's women's soccer boom post-Matildas' triumphs, it gained official state championship status in 2019 and integrated into Football NSW's calendar by 2023. The 2022 final saw Sydney FC Women crush Northern Tigers 4-1, while APIA Leichhardt stunned in 2024, clinching the title with a 15-goal margin. Notably, the tournament adapted to the pandemic with a compressed schedule, boosting excitement and attendance.
Tournament format
Featuring 10-12 elite teams from NSW, including lower-division champions, the tournament runs from March to September in a double round-robin format with 22 matches. The winner is decided by points, with tiebreakers for equality. A playoff for the top 4 adds drama: quarterfinals, semifinals, and a grand final on neutral ground.
Interesting facts
Averaging 3.2 goals per match, it's among Australia's most attacking women's leagues. Top scorer Ellie Carling (Sydney Olympic) netted 28 in 2023, followed by Kate McCartney (Wanderers) with 24. Standouts include Michelle Camardelle (APIA), whose dribbling echoes Sam Kerr, and goalkeeper Emma Eckford (Manly Utd) with a record 12 clean sheets. Graduates like Sarah Hunter have advanced to A-League Women, bolstering the national pipeline.