Pro League
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Upcoming season or competition: 2022 Pro League season | |
Sport | Association football |
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Founded | June 13, 1996 (25 years ago) |
Inaugural season | 1996 |
President | David Figueroa |
No. of teams | 12 |
Country | Rizealand |
Headquarters | Liberty City, Lothicania, RZL |
Most recent champion(s) | Winchester Blazers (1st title) |
Most titles | Los Santos Navigators (9 titles) |
TV partner(s) | RBC FBC Rizal Sports RSN |
Domestic cup(s) | Pro Cup |
Official website | www |
The Pro League, formerly known as the Rizealand Women's Professional Football League, is a professional association football league in Rizealand, currently comprising of 12 teams. Originally a professional football league for cisgender women only, the Pro League is now the most inclusive sporting league in Rizealand after it became the first to accept nonbinary and transgender athletes. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in Rizealand as well as the most popular non-male sports league in Rizealand and has headquarters in Liberty City. The Pro League's regular season begins in February and concludes in June with each team playing every other team in the league at least twice. From June to August, the post-season playoffs begin in each conference in single elimination games and end with the two finalists playing each other at the Pro Cup.
The Pro League began in 1996 as a competition for the Portmouth Mystics, Liberty City Wonders, Camden Stars, and Los Santos Navigators, when professional football was dominated by men's football clubs. While it struggled at first due to limited support and a lack of funding, it began to grow in popularity during the early 2000s. Previously, it played on the same fall-winter schedule as the more established RFL, forcing it to compete for fans and attention. In 2001, the Pro League switched its schedule to play in the spring-summer off-season, which allowed it to increase its fan base and attract RFL supporters. In 2007, it expanded with the addition of the Tyrell Avengers, McDowell Phantoms, Gadsen Buffalopes, and Ardougne Orientales. In 2012, it underwent a third expansion with the addition of the Vehemens City Wasps, Belltown Queens, Winchetser Blazers, and Las Venturas Sprint.
The LS Navigators are the most successful team in the Pro League, having won a total of 9 national championships. The LC Wonders are the second most successful team in the league, having won 4 national championships. The VC Wasps and Camden Stars are tied for the third highest number of national championships in the league as they each have won three championships. The Winchester Blazers are the winners of the 2021 Pro Cup, which was their first national championship win.