Spanish Championship. Segunda División RFEF. Women
The Segunda División RFEF Women is the fourth tier of Spain's women's football pyramid, run by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). It features driven clubs aiming to climb to higher divisions and acts as a crucial hub for nurturing talent in Spanish women's soccer.
History and foundation
Launched in 2020 amid RFEF's restructuring of women's leagues, it replaced the old Tercera División. The 2020/21 debut season had 32 teams in four groups of eight, navigating COVID disruptions. By 2022/23, it slimmed to three groups. Notable: Sides like Deportivo Alavés Gloriosa and Real Unión earned promotions, while clubs like CD Basconia draw from storied men's histories.
Tournament format
The format involves group stages with promotion playoffs. Teams (typically 3–4 groups of 10–12) play a double round-robin. Group winners ascend directly to Primera Federación Femenina; runners-up vie in playoffs for extras. Bottom teams drop to Tercera Federación or regional leagues. Season runs September to May with a winter break.
Interesting facts
Matches average 2.5–3 goals, favoring defensive battles. Top scorer 2023/24: Irene Navarro (Deportivo Alavés Gloriosa) with 18 goals. Standouts include midfielder María Herrera (Real Unión) for pinpoint passes and striker Laura García (CD Parquesol) for dazzling dribbles. The league has honed ex-Atlético Femenino players regaining form, with high-stakes games delivering fireworks amid generally tight scores.