Starting in 1991, it was previously known as the FA Women's Premier League.
At the end of the season the winners of the Northern and Southern Premier divisions qualified for a play-off match to decide the overall National League champion which was promoted to the Women's Championship.
The bottom two teams from each were relegated to the appropriate fourth tier FA WNL Division One.
The overall FA Women's National League champion was decided by a play-off match held at the end of the season between the Northern Division and Southern Division winners.
The play-off match also earned promotion to the Women's Championship subject to meeting licensing requirements.