2021–22 WE League season

The 2021–22 WE LEAGUE, also known as the 2021–22 Yogibo WE LEAGUE (Japanese: 2021–22 Yogibo WEリーグ, Hepburn: 2021–22 Yogibo WE Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 1st season of the WE LEAGUE, the top Japanese women's professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2020. The league begun on 2 September 2021 and scheduled to the end on 21 May 2022.

WE LEAGUE
Season2021–22
Dates12 September 2021 – 21 May 2022
Matches played50
Goals scored108 (2.16 per match)
Top goalscorerAkari Shiraki (MyNavi Sendai)
Ayaka Inoue (Omiya Ardija Ventus)
Yuika Sugasawa (Urawa Reds)
(5 goals)
(3 players)
Biggest home winINAC Kobe Leonessa 5–0 Omiya Ardija Ventus
(12 Sep)[1]
Biggest away winOmiya Ardija Ventus 1–4 Urawa Reds
(2 Oct)[2]
Highest scoringNojima Stella Kanagawa 2–4 Albirex Niigata
(20 Nov)[3]
(6 goals)
Longest winning run8 matches
INAC Kobe Leonessa
Longest unbeaten run8 matches
INAC Kobe Leonessa
Longest winless run7 matches
AS Elfen Saitama
Longest losing run5 matches
AS Elfen Saitama
← 2021
(Formerly first tier Nadeshiko League)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 21 November 2021.

Organisation

The WE LEAGUE is Japan's first fully professional women's soccer league, and 2021–22 is the WE LEAGUE's inaugural season.

Competition

Preseason

Preseason ran from 24 April 2021 to 19 June 2021 prior to the Tokyo Olympics. In the first preseason match, INAC Kobe Leonessa defeated AC Nagano Parceiro 3–0.[4]

Regular season

The regular season started on 12 September 2021[5] and finish on 21 May 2022.[6]

Clubs

Stadiums and locations

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
MyNavi Sendai Takeo Matsuda Haruka Hamada X-girl Mynavi Corporation
Urawa Reds Naoki Kusunose Hanae Shibata Nike POLUS Co., Ltd.
Omiya Ardija Ventus Takeyuki Okamoto Saori Ariyoshi X-girl ahamo
AS Elfen Saitama Etsuko Handa Emi Yamamoto X-girl Chifure Holdings Co., Ltd.
JEF United Chiba Shinji Sarusawa Kanae Hayashi X-girl Yakult Honsha
Tokyo Verdy Beleza Kazuhiko Takemoto Risa Shimizu ATHLETA Task Force Co., Ltd.
Nojima Stella Kanagawa Makoto Kitano Arisa Matsubara X-girl Television Kanagawa
AC Nagano Parceiro Tadashi Ogasahara Kyoka Goshima X-girl Hokto
Albirex Niigata Daisuke Muramatsu X-girl Kameda Seika
INAC Kobe Leonessa Kei Hoshikawa Emi Nakajima hummel Earth Corporation
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina Shin Nakamura Yukari Kinga Nike EDION

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of
appointment

Foreign players

The JFA subsidizes salaries for players from Southeast Asian member federations, while the league itself subsidizes players from top-ranked FIFA countries.[7]

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3
MyNavi Sendai
Urawa Reds Ángela Clavijo
Omiya Ardija Ventus Grace Cutler
AS Elfen Saitama Sarina Bolden
JEF United Chiba Alex Chidiac Quinley Quezada Cheng Ssu-yu
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Nojima Stella Kanagawa Cindy König Uchechi Sunday
AC Nagano Parceiro
Albirex Niigata Lee Hyo-kyeong
INAC Kobe Leonessa Hwang Ah-hyeon Rosnani Azman
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 INAC Kobe Leonessa 9 8 1 0 16 1 +15 25 Qualification for the 2022 AFC Club Championship group stage
2 MyNavi Sendai 9 4 4 1 12 5 +7 16
3 Urawa Reds 9 5 1 3 16 10 +6 16
4 JEF United Chiba 9 4 3 2 10 9 +1 15
5 Tokyo Verdy Beleza 9 4 2 3 12 5 +7 14
6 AC Nagano Parceiro 9 3 2 4 8 10 −2 11
7 Omiya Ardija Ventus 9 2 4 3 8 14 −6 10
8 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina 9 2 3 4 9 13 −4 9
9 Albirex Niigata 9 2 2 5 9 15 −6 8
10 Nojima Stella Kanagawa 9 1 3 5 3 10 −7 6
11 AS Elfen Saitama 10 1 3 6 5 16 −11 6
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: WE LEAGUE (in English), WE LEAGUE Data Site (in English)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

    Results

    Positions by round
    Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
    INAC Kobe Leonessa1411111111111
    MyNavi Sendai5343323222
    Urawa Reds4122234433
    JEF United Chiba7610101075544
    Tokyo Verdy Beleza8754442355
    AC Nagano Parceiro3235795766
    Omiya Ardija Ventus11119981010877
    Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina2577957688
    Albirex Niigata986658910109
    Nojima Stella Kanagawa59886689910
    AS Elfen Saitama10101111111111111111
    Leader and AFC Women's Club Championship group stage
    Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: WE LEAGUE (in English)

    Results by round
    Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
    MyNavi SendaiDWDWDWWLD
    Urawa RedsWWWWLLLWD
    Omiya Ardija VentusLDDLWLWDD
    AS Elfen SaitamaLDLLLLLWDD
    JEF United ChibaDLLDWWWWD
    Tokyo Verdy BelezaLDWWLWWLD
    Nojima Stella KanagawaDLDWLDLLL
    AC Nagano ParceiroWDDLLLWLW
    Albirex NiigataLDWDLLLLW
    INAC Kobe LeonessaWWWWWWWWD
    Sanfrecce Hiroshima ReginaWLLDLWDLD
    Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: WE LEAGUE (in English)
    W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

    All match results
    Home \ Away MYN RED VEN ELF JEF BEL STE PAR ALB LEO REG
    MyNavi Sendai 0–0[8] 1–1[9] 1–0[10] 0–0[11] 1–1[12]
    Urawa Reds 3–1[13] 2–0[14] 2–0[15] 0–2[16] 1–2[17]
    Omiya Ardija Ventus 1–4[2] 0–0[18] 1–3[19] 1–1[20] 4–1[21]
    AS Elfen 0–3[22] 1–1[23] 1–0[24] 0–1[25] 0–3[2]
    JEF United Chiba 2–1[26] 1–1[27] 0–3[28] 2–0[29]
    Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1–2[30] 0–0[31] 4–1[3] 2–0[32] 2–0[33]
    Nojima Stella Kanagawa 0–1[34] 1–0[35] 0–0[36] 2–4[37]
    AC Nagano Parceiro 0–2[38] 0–0[39] 0–2[40] 2–1[41]
    Albirex Niigata 0–3[42] 2–1[43] 0–1[44] 1–3[45]
    INAC Kobe Leonessa 5–0[1] 2–0[46] 1–0[47] 1–0[48] 1–0<[49]
    Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina 0–2[50] 1–1[51] 0–0[52] 1–1[53]
    Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: WE LEAGUE (in English)
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Season statistics
    As of 21 November 2021

    Top scorers
    Rank Player Club Goals[54]
    1 Akari Shiraki MyNavi Sendai 5
    (3 players)
    Ayaka Inoue Omiya Ardija Ventus
    Yuika Sugasawa Urawa Reds
    4 Ayaka Michigami Albirex Niigata 4
    (2 players)
    Haruka Osawa JEF United Chiba
    6 Chise Takizawa AC Nagano Parceiro 3
    (6 players)
    Megumi Takase INAC Kobe Leonessa
    Yui Narumiya INAC Kobe Leonessa
    Natsuki Kishikawa JEF United Chiba
    Miyu Yakata MyNavi Sendai
    Rikako Kobayashi Tokyo Verdy Beleza

    Pre-season matches

    Overview
    • Title: 2021 WE LEAGUE pre-season match
    • Dates: 24 April – 19 June 2021
    • Rules and regulations: match duration 90 minutes（first haf, second harf 45 minutes each)
    • Number of matches: 6 rounds、22 matches
    • Official website: 2021 WE LEAGUE pre-season match (in Japanese)

    Results
    24 April 2021 (2021-04-24) Match 1 INAC Kobe Leonessa 3–0 AC Nagano Parceiro Sakai, Osaka
    13:00 UTC+9
    • Yui Narumiya  23', 41'
    • Fukina Mizuno  90+2'
    		 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Natural Grass Main Field S1
    Attendance: 262
    Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)
    24 April 2021 (2021-04-24) Match 2 Urawa Reds 1–1 MyNavi Sendai Saitama, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Urawa Komaba Stadium
    Attendance: 1,504
    Referee: Asaka Koizumi (Japan)
    25 April 2021 (2021-04-25) Match 3 Albirex Niigata 6–0 Nojima Stella Kanagawa Niigata, Niigata
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Denka Big Swan Stadium
    Attendance: 678
    Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
    29 April 2021 (2021-04-29) Match 4 JEF United Chiba 0–1 Omiya Ardija Ventus Ichihara, Chiba
    13:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: ZA Oripri Stadium
    Attendance: 362
    Referee: Miu Sone (Japan)
    29 April 2021 (2021-04-29) Match 5 AC Nagano Parceiro 1–2 Albirex Niigata Saku, Nagano
    13:00 UTC+9
    • Hinako Murakami  73'
    		 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Saku Athletic Stadium
    Attendance: 280
    Referee: Kazue Kusadokoro (Japan)
    29 April 2021 (2021-04-29) Match 6 Nojima Stella Kanagawa 1–5 Urawa Reds Sagamihara, Kanagawa
    14:00 UTC+9
    • Minami Ishida  49'
    		 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Sagamihara Gion Stadium
    Attendance: 485
    Referee: Fusako Kajiyama (Japan)
    4 May 2021 (2021-05-04) Match 7 AS Elfen Saitama 0–1 INAC Kobe Leonessa Kumagaya, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium
    Attendance: 991
    Referee: Emi Chiba (Japan)
    8 May 2021 (2021-05-08) Match 8 AC Nagano Parceiro 1–0 Nojima Stella Kanagawa Saku, Nagano
    13:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Saku Athletic Stadium
    Attendance: 277
    Referee: Asaka Koizumi (Japan)
    8 May 2021 (2021-05-08) Match 9 Omiya Ardija Ventus 0–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina Saitama, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: NACK5 Stadium Omiya
    Attendance: 2,834
    Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
    8 May 2021 (2021-05-08) Match 10 Tokyo Verdy Beleza 0–1 JEF United Chiba Chōfu, Tokyo
    14:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    • Yuka Anzai  8'
    		 Stadium: AGF Field
    Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
    Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)
    9 May 2021 (2021-05-09) Match 11 MyNavi Sendai 0–0 AS Elfen Saitama Kakuda, Miyagi
    13:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Kakuda athletic field
    Attendance: 478
    Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
    22 May 2021 (2021-05-22) Match 12 INAC Kobe Leonessa 2–0 Urawa Reds Kobe, Hyōgo
    13:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe[57]
    Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)[57]
    Referee: Fusako Kajiyama (Japan)
    22 May 2021 (2021-05-22) Match 13 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina 2–0 JEF United Chiba Hiroshima, Hiroshima
    13:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Hiroshima Koiki Park Football Stadium No.1
    Attendance: 1,075
    Referee: Saki Nakamoto (Japan)
    22 May 2021 (2021-05-22) Match 14 Omiya Ardija Ventus 0–4 Tokyo Verdy Beleza Saitama, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: NACK5 Stadium Omiya
    Attendance: 2,856
    Referee: Mariko Iwaki (Japan)
    22 May 2021 (2021-05-22) Match 15 Albirex Niigata 3–1 AS Elfen Saitama Niigata, Niigata
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Denka Big Swan Stadium
    Attendance: 586
    Referee: Saori Takahashi (Japan)
    29 May 2021 (2021-05-29) Match 16 JEF United Chiba 1–2 MyNavi Sendai Chiba, Chiba
    12:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Fukuda Denshi Arena
    Attendance: 550
    Referee: Minako Asakura (Japan)
    29 May 2021 (2021-05-29) Match 17 Nojima Stella Kanagawa 0–1 Omiya Ardija Ventus Sagamihara, Kanagawa
    13:00 UTC+9 Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Sagamihara Gion Stadium
    Attendance: 485
    Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)
    29 May 2021 (2021-05-29) Match 18 Urawa Reds 2–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina Saitama, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Urawa Komaba Stadium
    Attendance: 1,431
    Referee: Junko Kirihara (Japan)
    30 May 2021 (2021-05-30) Match 19 Tokyo Verdy Beleza 4–0 Albirex Niigata Kita, Tokyo
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)    		 Stadium: Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka
    Attendance: 1,888
    Referee: Mari Miyazaki (Japan)
    5 June 2021 (2021-06-05) Match 20 MyNavi Sendai 2–1 Tokyo Verdy Beleza Ishinomaki, Miyagi
    13:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Ishinomaki football field
    Attendance: 488
    Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
    5 June 2021 (2021-06-05) Match 21 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina 0–1 INAC Kobe Leonessa Hiroshima, Hiroshima
    14:00 UTC+9[58] Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Hiroshima Koiki Park Football Stadium No.1
    Attendance: 1,573
    Referee: Michiko Fujita (Japan)
    19 June 2021 (2021-06-19) Match 22 AS Elfen Saitama 1–2 AC Nagano Parceiro Kumagaya, Saitama
    14:00 UTC+9
    		Report
    (WE LEAGUE)
    (in Japanese and English)
    		Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium
    Attendance: 701
    Referee: Hisae Yoshizawa (Japan)

    See also
    National association
    National league(s)
    • 2021 Nadeshiko League (Women's tier 2/3)
    • 2021 J1 League (Men's tier 1)
    National team(s)

    References
    1. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091208.pdf
    2. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021100223.pdf
    3. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101618.pdf
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    7. Orlowitz, Dan (10 September 2021). "Japan's ambitious WE League aims to empower in historic first season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
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    10. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021110611.pdf
    11. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091209.pdf
    12. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021112116.pdf
    13. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021111306.pdf
    14. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092002.pdf
    15. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101015.pdf
    16. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021110726.pdf
    17. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101619.pdf
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    19. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021103110.pdf
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    21. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101016.pdf
    22. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021100224.pdf
    23. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021112017.pdf
    24. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021110727.pdf
    25. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021103019.pdf
    26. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021103108.pdf
    27. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092001.pdf
    28. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021100222.pdf
    29. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021111415.pdf
    30. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091212.pdf
    31. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021112016.pdf
    32. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021103111.pdf
    33. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092518.pdf
    34. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021110612.pdf
    35. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101017.pdf
    36. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092612.pdf
    37. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021112014.pdf
    38. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101617.pdf
    39. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091820.pdf
    40. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021100225.pdf
    41. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021111417.pdf
    42. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101721.pdf
    43. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092610.pdf
    44. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021110613.pdf
    45. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091210.pdf
    46. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021092611.pdf
    47. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101014.pdf
    48. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021101720.pdf
    49. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021111416.pdf
    50. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021091821.pdf
    51. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021112015.pdf
    52. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021103109.pdf
    53. https://weleague.jp/files/2021/match_pdf/2021100226.pdf
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    56. "2021 WEリーグ プレシーズンマッチ 対戦カード、キックオフ時間、会場が決定". WEリーグ | Women Empowerment League (in Japanese). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
    57. "2021 WEリーグ プレシーズンマッチ 【12】 I神戸 vs. 浦和 会場変更、リモートマッチのお知らせ". WEリーグ | Women Empowerment League. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
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