These included several teams associated with clubs in the men's League of Ireland such as Dundalk, Finn Harps, Cork Celtic, Limerick and Sligo Rovers.
Others included Benfica (Waterford), Evergreen (Kilkenny), Avengers (Dublin), Cahir Park (Tipperary) and three teams from Galway – Beejays, Happy Wanderers and Wasps.
In a post season friendly they lost 3–1 to a touring Stade de Reims at Markets Field.
[9][10][11] Eamonn Darcy, a former manager of the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, served as vice-president of the league.
[16][17] Proposed members included a Mayo Ladies League representative team[18] and Longford Strikers.
Peamount United also completed a league double by winning the WNL Cup, defeating Shamrock Rovers 1–0 in the final.
[27][28] The league received international publicity in October 2013 when Stephanie Roche scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths which subsequently went viral on YouTube.
[29][30] Footage of the goal was uploaded to the internet by team manager Eileen Gleeson as the matches were not televised.
[31] Together with James Rodríguez and Robin van Persie, Roche was subsequently nominated for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award.
At the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony on 12 January 2015, Roche finished second to Rodríguez[32] with 33% of the vote.
In 2014–15 Wexford Youths were league champions and[33] in 2015–16 they retained the title after defeating Shelbourne Ladies in a play-off.
[49] Kilkenny United were excluded for a variety of reasons, including that they had not bonded with the local league, they had changed venues for home games, did not train in Kilkenny, lacked a qualified manager, and had produced poor results (just seven points in the last three seasons combined [60 matches]).
[50] In 2022 Sligo Rovers competed for the first time, bringing the league membership up to ten clubs.
[52] The first live game was broadcast by TG4 from Tolka Park on 2 October 2021 with hosts Shelbourne beating DLR Waves 1:0 with Alex Kavanagh scoring the only goal.
[55][56] On 5 March 2019 the ninth season of the Women's National League was launched and Só Hotels unveiled as the new sponsors.
[57] In 2020 the League lacked a title sponsor, as Só Hotels did not renew their agreement from the previous season.