The JFA-Japan Football Association selected 11 Founding Ladies Clubs for the first edition of the WE Women’s Elite League 2020-21, which is set to commence from September 2021.
Kikuko Okajima, WE League chairwoman announcing the decision explained that JFA had shortlisted 11 clubs from 17 applicants on the basis of their credentials. The shortlisted clubs credentials include each club having more than 15 women professional players under contract, 5,000 capacity stadium and women accounting for at least half of club employees within last 3 years.
Founding Clubs:
- 1. Nippon TV Beleza
2. Urawa Reds
3. INAC Kobe Leonessa
4. Mynavi Sendai
5. JEF United Chiba
6. Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
7. Albirex Niigata
8. Chifure AS Elfen Saitama
9. AC Nagano Parceiro
10. Omiya Ardija
11. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
