The creation of the Prime League is a step towards forming a contemporary, competitive and recognizable women's football product that meets European standards, unites leading clubs in the country, and promotes further development of women's football in Ukraine through fair competition.

New Competition Format

In the inaugural season of the Prime League, eight clubs that successfully passed the accreditation process and meet the requirements of an elite division will participate according to sporting principles:

— «Kolos» (Kovalivka);

— «Krivybas» (Kryvyi Rih);

— «Ladomir» (Vladimir);

— «Metalist 1925» (Kharkiv);

— «Panthers» (Uman);

— «Polska» (Zhytomyr);

— «Sisters» (Odessa);

— «Shakhtar» (Donetsk).

The teams will play in a new format for the first time. The championship will take place over four rounds with a home-and-away system.

Each club will play 28 matches, and there will be a total of 112 games played during the season. The new format will ensure an increase in the competitive level of the championship and more competitive matches throughout the tournament.

The start date for the first round is July 17, 2026. By the end of the calendar year, 17 rounds are planned to be held, with the last one scheduled for November 20.

In spring 2027, the championship will resume from the 18th round, and the final, 28th round is planned at the end of May.

At the end of the season, the last team will be relegated directly to a lower class, while the second-to-last will play relegation matches for the right to remain in the Prime League.

Chair of the Women's and Girls' Football Committee of the UAF, Anastasia Klypachenko:

"The Prime League is not just a new name or format. It’s a comprehensive approach to developing women's club football: raising organizational standards, quality broadcasts, modern communications and forming a strong brand for the championship. We want every match to be an exciting event for fans, and each club to have new opportunities for development. 

Previously, we had two leagues without organic sporting exchange between them, and the level of teams was extremely different in some places. Overwhelming scores, predictability, demotivation of young players, and stagnation in the development of stronger footballers – these are all problems we faced. 

Now we will have three leagues working. At the top is an elite product, the Prime League. The composition of participants is now balanced; there will be healthy competition and opportunities for growth in each division. In these conditions, women's football can be popularized and a product created for fans. We believe this project will become an important stage in the development of women’s football in Ukraine."

President of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Shevchenko:

"The development of women's football is an important direction for work at the Ukrainian Football Association. Launching the Prime League is a necessary step towards creating a modern championship that meets European standards. Our consistent position: competition is an essential component for development. We followed this path in children’s and youth football, where we see positive changes. Now we aim to raise the competitive level through competition in women's leagues as well. A format with eight teams in the highest division – this is the step needed now by women's football. We hope that fans will see many exciting matches, while players will elevate their level."

Interpretation of Naming

The new name reflects the strategic vision for the development of the championship and sets its future identity.

The word "Prime" symbolizes the peak of development, the moment when potential is maximally realized. This is exactly where women's football in Europe stands now, with interest constantly growing. Our Ukrainian national team also progresses – the team plays in the highest division of the League of Nations and fights for a place at the World Cup. Therefore, Ukrainian women’s football is ready for a new qualitative stage of its growth, ready to enter its "Prime."

We aim for the new league to be an attractive platform for clubs, players, fans, partners, sponsors and media.

The Prime League is a statement of ambition for Ukrainian women's football and its desire to create the main football arena in the country where the best play, where new champions, heroines, and stories of Ukrainian sports are born. 

New Identity

The visual identity of the Prime League is built on symbols that highlight Ukrainian identity and the modern character of the championship.

The color palette is based on the colors of the State Flag of Ukraine, a shade of football grass, and a gradient tri-color that will become one of the key elements in the new brand's communication.

A unique feature of the identity is the geometry created based on the shape of the central upper element of the Ukrainian trident, which has become the basis for the graphic system of the brand and will be used in all visual materials of the League.