Can The WPL Kick On?

Three years after the Women's Premier League's watershed moment with the announcement of a three-year sponsorship deal with professional services firm Deloitte, it entered the 2025 season without a title sponsor. The WPL's issues, both on and off the field, have been reported over the years, but have things improved? The Straits Times speaks to players, coaches and officials involved in the local women's football competition to find out its current state.

- Deepanraj Ganesan and Kimberly Kwek

When the Women's Premier League (WPL) returned in 2022 after a two-year pandemic-enforced hiatus, it relaunched to fanfare as Deloitte was unveiled as its title sponsor.

The professional services firm signed a three-year deal worth over $300,000, with an option for a two-year extension, marking the league's first title sponsorship since its inception in August 2000.

It seemed to signal a new era for women's football here, but the initial excitement has since faded, with the league still facing several challenges, from sub-par match-day facilities to limited exposure.

Things worsened ahead of the 2025 season, which kicked off on March 1, when Deloitte decided not to extend its sponsorship, leaving the WPL without a title sponsor.

While players and officials interviewed by The Straits Times noted that there have been improvements in the league over the past three years, many believe significant issues remain. Losing a title sponsor has left some concerned about the WPL's future.

Still Aerion midfielder Lila Tan acknowledged that Deloitte's support had enhanced the league's overall experience and professionalism, and hopes for new sponsors to come in.

She said: "Deloitte has been a massive support over the few years for WPL and, without our biggest sponsorship, I'm not too sure how the league is going to progress from here."

Asked about Deloitte's decision, James Walton, sports business group leader of Deloitte Asia Pacific and South-east Asia, said: "When you're talking about sponsorships and partnerships, it is about the brand, the eminence, and the outreach that you are achieving.

"We did a review, had some discussions with FAS (Football Association of Singapore) around what the expectations, the directions, are for the next couple of years, and we just decided at this point in time that with the other things that we have coming down the line, it would be difficult for us to continue to commit to this (WPL)."