Brazilian Championship. Gaucho League. Women
The Women's Gaucho League Championship, a regional tournament in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state, features top women's football clubs vying for supremacy and national qualification spots. It highlights the surging popularity of women's soccer in southern Brazil, blending football heritage with fervent local support. The season typically runs from January to May, drawing thousands to stadiums and local broadcasts.
History and foundation
Launched in 2012 by the Rio Grande do Sul Football Federation (FGF), the league marked the professionalization of women's football. Internacional claimed the inaugural 2013 title, setting a dominance benchmark. A milestone came in 2018 with integration into Brazil's Serie A3. The 2020 pandemic shortened play, but 2021 saw record crowds—15,000 at the Gremio vs. Criciúma final. In 2023, Inter defended their crown in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Tournament format
The format features a single round-robin regular season with 10-12 teams, seeding playoff qualifiers by points. Knockouts include quarterfinals, semifinals, and a two-legged final. Bottom teams fight relegation. Matches occur on venues like Beira-Rio and Arena Gremio. VAR was introduced for key 2024 games, enhancing officiating standards.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match stand at 2.8, spiking to 4.5 in derbies. Top scorers: Giselle (26 goals for Inter, 2019-2022), Carol Lineares (19 for Gremio in 2023). Standouts include midfielder Drihelma Silva (Inter, 14 assists last season) and forward Bia Zanetto (Santa Cruz), who earned a Brazil national team call-up. The league has nurtured talents like Milena, now at Benfica. (Total: 1923 characters)