The 2023–24 Scottish Women's Premier League was the 23rd season of the SWPL, the highest division of women's football in Scotland since 2002. Sponsored by ScottishPower, the league was played with 12 clubs. It was the second season of operation under the auspices of the Scottish Professional Football League.
Glasgow City were the defending champions, after winning their 14th title in 16 seasons on a dramatic last matchday of 2022–23 to stay ahead of Celtic and Rangers, both of whom could have finished as champions depending on the results.Watch SWPL: City dramatically snatch title from Celtic in dying seconds, BBC Sport, 21 May 2023 The newcomers to SWPL 1 were Montrose, restoring a representation for the Angus region in the top tier after long-time members Forfar Farmington resigned from the league in 2021.
A 12-club "split" format was used in SWPL 1 in 2023–24, with a double round-robin before the "split", then another double round-robin of the top six and bottom six clubs respectively. The SWPL previously used a "split" format between the 2012 and 2015 seasons. The 12th-placed club in SWPL 1 would relegated to be replaced by the SWPL 2 winner, with a promotion/relegation play-off taking place between the clubs finishing 11th in SWPL 1 and 2nd in SWPL 2.23/24 SWPL play-off final details confirmed, Scottish Women's Premier League, 6 May 2024 The league season began on 13 August 2023 and ended on 19 May 2024.
The championship was again settled on the final matchday, which Celtic and Rangers started on the same points after pulling ahead of Glasgow City; Celtic's superior goal difference meant they led the table and only had to match Rangers' result to win the title. However, while Rangers quickly took and kept a lead against Partick Thistle, Celtic struggled to break down the Hibernian defence. In the 90th minute, Amy Gallacher scored the only goal of the match at Celtic Park to give her side their first league championship in the women's game.SWPL finale: Celtic snatch title with 90th-minute winner, BBC Sport, 19 May 2024 Celtic's men's team had also won the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership, and this was the first instance of a club holding both national championships at the same time.Scotland is Green and White as Celtic seal men's and women's titles, Celtic FC, 22 May 2024 Rangers had some consolation in winning both the SWPL Cup and the Women's Scottish Cup.Clinical Rangers secure Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup, Scottish Football Association, 26 May 2024
At the bottom of the SWPL 1 table, Hamilton were relegated with Queen's Park coming up to replace them;Queen's Park secure ScottishPower Women's Premier League 2 title, Scottish Women's Premier League, 14 April 2024 Dundee United survived by defeating Kilmarnock in the play-off.
Teams Team Location Manager Home ground Capacity 2022–23 position Aberdeen Cove Bay Clinton Lancaster Balmoral Stadium 2,602 9th Celtic Airdrie Fran Alonso(to January 2024) Elena Sadiku(from January 2024)Celtic Women appoint first female manager to replace Fran Alonso, Peter Cassidy, STV News, 12 January 2024 Excelsior Stadium 10,101 2nd Dundee United Dundee Graeme Hart(to March 2024) Suzy Shepherd(from March 2024)Dundee United Women appoint Suzy Shepherd as head coach, BBC Sport, 1 March 2024 Foundation Park TBC 10th Glasgow City Springburn Leanne Ross Petershill Park 1,000 1st Hamilton Academical Hamilton Robert Watson New Douglas Park 6,018 11th Heart of Midlothian Edinburgh Eva Olid Oriam 1,000 4th Hibernian Edinburgh Grant Scott Meadowbank Stadium 1,320 5th Montrose Montrose Craig Feroz Links Park 4,936 1st in SWPL 2 Motherwell Motherwell Paul Brownlie Alliance Park 500 8th Partick Thistle Springburn Brian Graham Petershill Park 1,000 6th Rangers Cumbernauld Jo Potter Broadwood Stadium 8,086 2nd Spartans Edinburgh Debbi McCulloch(to January 2024) Jack Beesley(from January 2024)Jack Beesley appointed Spartans Women FC First Team Head Coach, Spartans FC Women, 11 January 2024 Ainslie Park 3,000 7th
Regular season
Top six
Bottom six
Monthly awards
+ SWPL 1 monthly awards 2023–24Month Player of the MonthClubRefGoal of the MonthClubRefAugustAmy GallacherCelticGallacher and Kane win first SWPL Player of the Month awards of 2023/24 season, SWPL, 8 September 2023 Mia McAulay Rangers Mia McAulay wins first ever SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 4 September 2023SeptemberKirsty HowatRangersKane wins back-to-back SWPL 2 awards as Howat wins SWPL Player of the Month for first time, SWPL, 2 October 2023 Keira ChuterDundee United Keira Chuter wins September SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 25 September 2023OctoberKirsty HowatRangersHowat and Kane make history with SWPL Player of the Month wins, SWPL, 7 November 2023 Sade Adamolekun Hearts Olufolasade Adamolekun wins October SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 31 October 2023 NovemberRio HardyRangersKane wins fourth SWPL 2 award as Hardy makes it a Rangers treble, SWPL, 8 December 2023 Kit Loferski Celtic Kit Loferski wins November SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 6 December 2023 DecemberCaitlin HayesCelticHayes and Skelton win SWPL Player of the Month awards for December, SWPL, 11 January 2024 Rosie Slater Partick Thistle Rosie Slater wins December and January SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 7 February 2024 JanuaryRachel RoweRangers Rowe and McDonald-Nguah pick up first Player of the Month awards for 2024, SWPL, 8 February 2024 FebruaryEmma ThomsonHamilton AcademicalThomson and Brown win SWPL Player of the Month awards for February, SWPL, 5 March 2024 Chloe Muir Hamilton Academical Chloe Muir wins February SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 1 March 2024 MarchNatasha FlintCelticFlint and Cowie win SWPL Player of the Month awards for March, SWPL, 12 April 2024 Rachel DonaldsonPartick Thistle Rachel Donaldson wins March SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 11 April 2024 AprilLaura BerryMotherwellBerry and McCafferty win penultimate SWPL awards, SWPL, 10 April 2024 Hannah Innes Aberdeen Hannah Innes wins April SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 12 April 2024 MayAmy GallacherCelticGallacher and Cowie win final Player of the Month awards, SWPL, 31 May 2024 Lia Tweedie HibernianLia Tweeide wins May SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 31 May 2024
References