The Czech Women's First League (Czech: I. liga žen), known as the FORTUNA=LIGA for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the top level women's football league of the Czech Republic. The league is dominated by teams of Prague. Slavia Prague won the last championships, Sparta Prague was runner-up. The winning team and runners-up of the league qualifies for the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The I. liga started as a competition for 12 teams, each playing all other teams twice.[2]
In 2002, the number of teams was reduced to ten and after the regular season was followed with a playoff with eight best teams.[2] In 2006, the system was abandoned and a league of 12 teams was re-instated.
Since 2009-10, only eight teams participated in the league and after the regular season, a playoff system was held. In those two playoff groups, place 1 to 4 for the championship and the relegation group for teams placed between 5th and 8th positions. In 2010–11 nine teams played again only a double-round robin.
In August 2024, FAČR and Czech betting company Fortuna [cs] signed a two-year partnership deal with option. In accordance with this deal, the Czech Women's First League will be called FORTUNA=LIGA from the 2024–25 season.[1]
^ abJeřábek, Luboš (2007). Ceský a ceskoslovenský fotbal - lexikon osobností a klubu (in Czech). Prague: Grada Publishing. p. 228. ISBN978-80-247-1656-5.