William R. Crabbe of Shady Side Academy acted as a central force in the formation of the League and served as its first president.

[2] At its inception the league was poorly received by the public and the press, and found it difficult to enforce its rules.

Following the local success of WPIAL, the idea was brought to the whole state in 1914 when the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) was founded.

Although officially known as District 7, the WPIAL is grandfathered to keep the older name due to it predating the PIAA.

[3] The league is responsible for administering the interscholastic athletic participation/competition of public school districts and private schools located in Allegheny (except Pittsburgh Public Schools), Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania.