Premiere Ligue Women2025/2026 — Standings, Fixtures & Top Scorers

The Division 1 Féminine — commonly known as D1 Féminine or D1 Arkema after its long-running title sponsor — is the top tier of women's football in France and one of the most storied leagues in the history of the women's game. Founded in 1974 as the Championnat de France féminin, it stands as one of the oldest organised women's football competitions in the world, predating the professionalization of the sport in most other countries by decades. Today it operates as a 12-team professional league running from September to May, with clubs fighting not only for the French title but for crucial UEFA Women's Champions League places.

No discussion of D1 Féminine is complete without acknowledging the extraordinary dominance of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. OL Féminin have claimed the French title 18 times, including a run of consecutive championships that turned the league into what pundits called a "one-club competition" for much of the 2010s. Their supremacy extended far beyond domestic borders: Lyon have lifted the UEFA Women's Champions League a record eight times, making them the most successful club in the history of European women's football by an enormous margin. Players like Ada Hegerberg — winner of the first-ever women's Ballon d'Or in 2018 — Wendie Renard, Amandine Henry, and Eugénie Le Sommer built their legacies wearing the red-and-white of Lyon, cementing the club's status as a global institution of women's football.

Yet the narrative of French women's football is no longer solely Lyon's to write. Paris Saint-Germain Féminine has emerged as a genuine rival since the club's serious investment in the women's section began around 2012, riding the financial wave of Qatar Sports Investments to assemble squads capable of challenging both domestically and in Europe. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, one of the most clinical strikers of her generation, made PSG a feared name across the continent, while Kadidiatou Diani brought pace and creativity that lit up the Parc des Princes. The Lyon–PSG rivalry has become the defining fixture of modern D1 Féminine.

Beyond the top two, the 2025/26 season showcases the growing depth of football féminin France. Paris FC have established themselves as credible top-half contenders, while clubs like Montpellier, Fleury 91, and Strasbourg represent regional football with genuine ambitions. Olympique Marseille Féminin, backed by one of France's most passionate fanbases, add further prestige to the competition.

The league's commercial identity evolved significantly in 2019 when Arkema became title sponsor — giving rise to the widely used name D1 Arkema. Arkema renewed its sponsorship through 2028, with the league rebranded as Arkema Première Ligue from the 2024/25 season, during which time the league invested heavily in production values, media coverage, and player welfare. The D1 Féminine season structure sees 12 clubs play a double round-robin format, with the bottom two sides facing relegation to D2 Féminine. The champion earns automatic entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage.

The 2025/26 D1 Féminine season features twelve clubs drawn from across France. Olympique Lyonnais Féminin return as perennial title favourites, their squad stocked with international talent and guided by a club infrastructure unmatched in women's football globally. Paris Saint-Germain Féminine bring the financial muscle and star power of their parent club.

Paris FC continue their steady rise as the capital's third major women's club. Montpellier represent the south of France with a long D1 history. Fleury 91, based south of Paris, regularly punch above their weight. Strasbourg from Alsace, Nantes from the Atlantic coast, and Dijon from Burgundy bring regional representation. Olympique Marseille carry the expectations of one of Europe's most passionate fanbases. Lens, Le Havre, and Saint-Étienne complete a geographically diverse twelve-team field.

The Championnat de France féminin was born in 1974 at a time when women's football was still dismissed by mainstream institutions across most of Europe. France's early investment in an organised national league gave domestic clubs a competitive structure to develop around.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin redefined what domestic dominance could look like. From the mid-2000s onwards, OL Féminin embarked on a run of title-winning seasons built on a virtuous cycle: Champions League revenue funded world-class signings, which won more Champions League titles. Ada Hegerberg embodied this era — a relentless, technically sublime forward who shattered scoring records.

PSG's entry as a genuine rival shifted the dynamic from the mid-2010s. Backed by Qatari investment, PSG Féminine broke the transfer market ceiling for French women's football. Other clubs have left their mark: Montpellier, Juvisy, and Saint-Étienne all held periods of relevance. Paris FC have emerged as a new force challenging the established hierarchy.

D1 Féminine has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of women's football. Leading players at OL Féminine and PSG Féminine are estimated to earn between €150,000 and €300,000 per year. Ada Hegerberg was among the highest-paid in the division. Wendie Renard, the Lyon captain, spent virtually her entire career at OL. Amandine Henry won the Best XI award at the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto established herself as one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe at PSG before joining Lyon in summer 2025; she remains in European women's football. Kadidiatou Diani brought electrifying pace. Sandy Baltimore (now at Chelsea since summer 2024) emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

At mid-table clubs, average salaries range from €20,000 to €80,000 annually. The professionalization has accelerated since 2020, with the league mandating minimum professional contract standards across all twelve clubs.

D1 Féminine matches are broadcast on Canal+ and DAZN in France, providing coverage of headline fixtures including the Lyon vs PSG clashes. For international audiences, DAZN's multi-territory platform offers the most accessible route to watching D1 Féminine live and on-demand across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.

The UEFA Women's Champions League broadcasts — featuring D1 Féminine clubs prominently each season — provide additional mainstream exposure on DAZN and free-to-air partners.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin play their biggest matches at the Groupama Stadium (59,186 capacity), a venue that has hosted several historic European nights. PSG Féminine play at the Parc des Princes for showcase fixtures. Smaller clubs typically play in stadiums ranging from 3,000 to 15,000 capacity.

Overall attendance has grown steadily, driven by the 2019 Women's World Cup in France. Record attendances for individual D1 Féminine matches have exceeded 20,000 spectators in recent seasons.

• Founded in 1974, one of the oldest women's football leagues in the world
• Olympique Lyonnais Féminin have won the title 18 times (the most in French women's football history)
• OL Féminin hold a record 8 UEFA Women's Champions League titles
• Ada Hegerberg became the first women's Ballon d'Or winner in 2018 while at Lyon
• Known as D1 Arkema since 2019 (renewed through 2028) after title sponsor Arkema
• France hosted the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, boosting domestic interest
• 12 clubs compete in a double round-robin format from September to May
• PSG Féminine began significant women's investment around 2012
• Champion earns automatic entry to UEFA Women's Champions League group stage
• Top player salaries range from €20,000 to over €300,000 at Lyon and PSG
• Wendie Renard spent her entire career at OL Féminin
• Groupama Stadium has hosted D1 Féminine crowds exceeding 20,000