It replaced an earlier state league as the top level netball competition in Victoria.
The earlier league featured eighteen teams but, after restructuring, the number was reduced to ten.
The founding ten members of the new league were Ballarat Pride, Boroondara Genesis, Geelong Cougars, Hume City Falcons, Monash University Central, North East Blaze, Peninsula Waves, Southern Saints, VU Western Lightning and Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
[1][2][3][4] The league's most successful team has been City West Falcons, who have won seven Championship titles and 17 premierships in total, across three divisions.
[14][15][16] Source:[3][21][37][38][39] The VNL is effectively a feeder league for the Suncorp Super Netball teams Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies.