The Women’s Champions League is firmly in the business end, with the second leg of the quarterfinals set to take place this week.
The usual contenders — Chelsea, Lyon, Barcelona — are in the mix while the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal are also in the hunt for European glory.
ESPN takes a look at the teams that have tasted success in the competition in the past.
A brief history of the Women’s Champions League:
The first iteration of the tournament, called the UEFA Women’s Cup, was held in the 2001-02 season with 33 teams competing. The following year saw the introduction of a two-legged final and by the 2007-08 season, the number of competing teams had risen to 45, although entry was restricted only to league champions.
It was rebranded as the Women’s Champions League in the 2009-10 season, with doors opened up to league runners-up. The two-legged final was disbanded and the qualifying round was replaced by a group-stage format. The winners from each of the four groups then progress to the knockout rounds.
The tournament was revamped in the 2021-22 season, with the introduction of a 16-team group stage.
The Women’s Champions League is scheduled to change again as of next season to be brought in line with the men’s format that sees one extended league table followed by seeded knockout rounds.
Who won the first edition?
The 2001-02 final was played at the Waldstadion between Sweden’s Umeå and FFC Frankfurt (now Eintracht Frankfurt). The German side ran out as 2-0 winners.
