Recently, the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) released their annual A-League Women’s (ALW) report for the 2024/25 season, which revealed the dire state the league has been left in, and the sheer necessity for change needed to keep the competition sustainable.
The issue at the forefront of the report regards the lack of complete professionalism present in the ALW, and the impact of this on player wellbeing. The minimum salary in the ALW sits at $26,500 AUD, the lowest of any major women’s sporting league in Australia. In comparison, the second lowest minimum salary comes from the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) at $29,465, and the third lowest jumps up to $45,320 with the Suncorp Super Netball. Consequently, 62% of players have required non-football related work to stay afloat, with 56% of those working more than 10 hours a week. Additionally, in a self-reported financial stability assessment, the number of players who selected ‘not at all’ or ‘only slightly’ secure rose from 66% two years ago to 76% in the 2024/25 season.
When asked about the importance of the ALW transitioning into a fully professional framework, Canberra United defender Sasha Grove said:
“Professionalising the A-League would provide me the security to focus on football full-time. For many players the part-time nature of the ALW creates a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the off-season. Many players are left in the dark when it comes to off-season training and whether or not they will be able to get a contract for the next season. This massively takes away from our ability to grow the women’s game, increase its visibility, and promote domestic talent.”
Similarly, three-time Matildas head coach Tom Sermani commented:
“And we are still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players, to actually keep them and know what’s happening.”
The lack of professionalism has halted the progression of the ALW as a top league, widening the gap between it and women’s leagues overseas. This in turn has weakened the talent retention rate, with already professional leagues posing a major threat to those willing to play in the ALW. The increase in clubs losing their best players to major international leagues has forced recruitment to come from teams as low as fifth tier in the football pyramid, with the traditional player pipeline from United States collegiate players beginning to wilt at the hands of the rapid development in professionalism of football in North America.
Alarmingly, the ALW has fallen in preference amongst its own players, with the competition receiving the lowest average ranking when put up against England’s Women’s Super League (WSL), the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and other overseas leagues. This presents a stark reflection on the impact a lack of investment and progress has on a league, especially when other countries are able to provide the ideal environments for the development of a player.
The shortfall of investment has not only impacted the players, but also the fanbases on a large scale. Match attendances have begun to drop, with a 26% decline in attendance numbers in the 2024/25 season. This sees the first decline in fans since the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the upward trajectory of fans that was present in recent seasons. The downturn in attendances is noted to be caused by the drop in football fans as the 2023 Women’s World Cup buzz began to languish.
Through conversations with ALW focus group participants, it became clear that many diehard Matildas fans did not find themselves as invested in the ALW due to the contrast in quality between the two. Whilst the Matildas have seen mountains of support and funding, the ALW only receives a fraction of the investment, and therefore is not seen as an accurate reflection of the quality of football the country can produce.
An ALW focus group participant said:
“Whether it be by the club or by [the] league, it just feels like the women’s supporter experience is really quite second rate. I’ve had a great time, but I do feel like the women’s league is a real afterthought.”
Poor stadium quality and accessibility have also impacted the fan experience, with most of the smaller women’s home stadiums lacking sufficient infrastructure. The stadiums with the highest quality pitches and facilities outsize the current attendance numbers of the ALW, creating a dull, emotionless environment.
Another growing issue that has been highlighted in the ALW is the increasing reports of negative mental health symptoms. 67% of players reported experiencing symptoms of sport-related psychological distress, an increase from 63% in 2020, with the share of players experiencing global psychological distress also increasing drastically.
Other related issues are also presenting themselves at worrying rates, with 41% of players experiencing disordered eating, and 34% of players experiencing alcohol misuse. It was also reported that those who underwent an injury saw increased tendencies to engage in alcohol consumption and gambling. The PFA has seen a steep increase in players utilising psychological services, likely due to increased awareness on mental health issues amongst athletes.
In all, the PFA, the players, and the fans are together calling for further investment in the ALW, something that is crucial if the league wants to remain in competition with other leagues of a similar nature. There is an especial priority on ensuring this can be done in tandem with the 2026 Asian Cup, as the nation looks to capitalise on hosting two major international tournaments in quick succession.
