Its top division broke away to form the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) in 2002, with the aim of introducing a more professional attitude and increasing media interest.

The twelve founder members of the SWPL were Ayr United, Cove Rangers, Dundee, Giulianos, Glasgow City, F.C.

Kilmarnock's success faded after the departure of manager Jim Chapman and of Scotland internationals including Shelley Kerr,[9] Joanne Love and Linda Brown.

[13][14] The Hibs squad included Scotland's Pauline Hamill,[15] Kirsty McBride, Suzanne Grant, Joelle Murray and Kim Little.

[18] In 2007, the running of the League was taken over by the Scottish Football Association[3] while the SWFA, renamed SWF, thereafter operated as part of the SFA.

[19] The women's leagues' move from a winter to a summer schedule (March–November), from 2009, saw a rise in attendances in its first seasons, and far fewer match postponements.

[24] Club co-founder Carol Anne Stewart commented, "the FA are investing seriously in women's football.

Along with other Scottish football organisations, the SWPL and SWF Championship received donations from the philanthropist James Anderson[31] and from an anonymous donor: "The focus was to buy time so the women’s game could survive the COVID crisis until it was safe for football to return.

[38][39] The top two tiers of women's football are run within the SPFL by a separate board that includes the clubs' representatives.

The initial Women's Premier League format was based on a double round-robin of 12 clubs.

Some seasons had fewer games, in part due to the withdrawals of Shettleston (2003–04),[11] Newburgh Juniors (2007–08),[18] and Queen's Park (2008–09).

Past SWPL clubs include Ayr United, Dundee, Cove Rangers, Giulianos, Inver-Ross, Lossiemouth, Raith Rovers, Shettleston,[5] East Kilbride,[17] Hutchison Vale, Newburgh Juniors,[55] and Forfar Farmington.

[43] Clubs taken over by existing members include Arsenal North (Celtic) and Whitehill Welfare/Edinburgh Ladies (Spartans).

[58] The Scottish Women's Premier League table was first included in the Evening Times Wee Red Book in 2008–09.