Its slogan is ''football with style'', but don't expect the W-League to simply be a pretty addition to the Australian soccer program when it kicks off today.
Since the WNSL folded in 2004 there has been a gaping hole in women's soccer in Australia.
But when the whistle blows this afternoon a new era of women's soccer will kick-off.
Comprising seven teams affiliated with A-League clubs and Canberra United, the W-League will put women's soccer back on the map.
And the players are keen to make an impact.
Former Matildas captain and Canberran Julie Murray will be in Perth today for the first game and is convinced the W-League will prove stylish and competitive.
''I think absolutely football with style, the style of the players off the field, aesthetically, the way they look and what they bring to the game,'' Murray said. ''But when it comes to that whistle, well there are no friends, I can assure you that.''
Murray will have a box seat for the new league as the expert commentator for ABC 1's coverage one live game every Saturday at 4pm.
It's the first coverage of its kind for women's soccer in Australia on free-to-air TV.
TV coverage is one step towards making the women's game professional in Australia, the next is wages.
Sydney FC striker Sarah Walsh said at this week's launch, ''We got over that a long time ago, we're certainly not playing for the money,'' but a few players will be paid this summer.
Despite the FFA stating there would be a $150,000 salary cap for each club, only two are offering payments Queensland Roar and Canberra United. Some clubs are offering their top Matildas players a little.
Sydney FC isn't paying anyone.
But players won't have to chip in for travel and kits like in the WNSL.
But while playing isn't a full-time job, the league does provide a career option in coaching.
Perth Glory coach Nicola Williams is the only female head coach in the league this year.
Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury is an assistant at the Newcastle Jets and Lisa Warrener has the same job for the Mariners.
Most importantly, the league completes the pathway for women in Australia. In the past four years if players didn't make the under-17 Australian team, or the Young Matildas (under-20s) it was hard to get a senior spot.
Now those players who missed out can prove they deserve to be considered, among them Canberra's captain Ellie Brush, midfielder Cian Maciejewski and defender Grace Gill.
It's also a chance for those retired from the Matildas to still be involved.
Di Alagich retired from the Matildas earlier this year but will captain Adelaide United against Queensland today.
''Before if you were out of the national team you kind of dropped off the scene, now you can stay in the game and you can offer that experience to the next generation,'' Alagich said. ''Also there might be girls that missed out on the Matildas not by much, just by one or two spots and you need a place for them. This gives them a real purpose and an opportunity to show the national coach that they deserve to be there.''
Last year the Matildas made the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup in China. This year in the lead-up to the Olympics which they didn't qualify for the Matildas were in demand by other international teams that had earnt the right to play in Beijing.
It's the fastest growing women's sport in the country with more than 100,000 players.
In Canberra this year there were more than 1200 women playing in Capital Football's women division and 3394 girls in the junior leagues, both up more than seven per cent on the previous year.
W-LEAGUE ROUND ONE
Today: Perth Glory v Sydney at Members Equity Stadium, 3pm. Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners at Telstra Dome, 4pm. Queensland Roar v Adelaide United W-League QSAC, 5pm.
Tomorrow: Newcastle Jets v Canberra United at Wanderers Oval, 1.30pm.
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