‘Sky is the limit’ for JWPL - JWPL organisers and players praise JWPL progress

As the grand finale for the 2026 Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) season draws near, players and organisers alike have sung praises for the league’s operations in its second staging since its rebrand. 

The JWPL underwent a major rebrand before the start of the 2025 season which also came with the foundation of the Professional Women’s Football Jamaica Limited (PWFJL). 

The PWFJL is charged with the league’s operations and commercialisation, with Christina Hudson appointed the chairwoman. 

Hudson has taken to her role like a duck to water and said the PWFJL has seen massive improvements over the past two seasons. 

She said their first season was a resounding success for the league which saw them establishing long-term partnerships with their corporate sponsors. 

“In the first year, people were a little bit unsure about what we would be able to offer or accomplish,” Hudson explained. 

“But I think our executions have spoken for themselves and we have come out as a very strong brand. So, all of our sponsors from season one came back on board for season two; most in an even bigger capacity than before.” 

Hudson said their success has also seen members of corporate Jamaica reaching out to the PWFJL to join the league as sponsors. 

With women’s football being one of the fastest growing sports globally and in Jamaica, Hudson believes the continued support is a recipe for success. 

“We're towards the end of the second season and we're actually having people solicit us to be new sponsors going into the next season,” she revealed. 

“We speak about this a lot, but women's football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally. And so, sponsoring women's football is a commercially viable option,” Hudson continued. 

“It's something that there's a lot of value in. So, I think, going forward, the sky is the limit.” 

CAPACITY BUILDING 

Hudson explained that their success has not only been in sponsorships, but in setting the platform for a more professional league. 

She said the PWFJL has organised various workshops for the players and clubs to learn from experts in the industry. 

This included a recent Concacaf workshop where the head coach of the USA’s women’s U23 team, Heather Dyche, and Mexico’s women’s U23 head coach, Dr Vanessa Martínez Lagunas, both presented. 

“One of our very big goals as an organisation from PWFJL's standpoint is that we do want to focus heavily on capacity building. Whether that means capacity building for the executives at the clubs, the coaches of the clubs, or the players of the clubs,” Hudson explained. 

“We recently had a joint capacity building workshop with Concacaf and it was really great. Many different stakeholders actually got to benefit from that because they had a high-intensity training session here at the JFF Technical Centre with our coaches and our players,” she continued. 

“But we also did sessions regarding club licensing and really strengthening the executive side or the management side of clubs.” 

The impact has not only been felt by the league’s organisers, but the players as well. 

Los Perfectos’ striker Venicia Reid said she believes the league is heading in the right direction. 

The veteran striker, who recently announced her retirement, said:

“Honestly, the future for Jamaican football looks really bright. Back in the days when I used to play, none of this used to happen, so I just want to tell the organisation that is running this, it's a good job. 

“I like the organisation this year compared to back in the time when I used to play. To be honest, probably if I was 36, I would be coming back next season but, with my age (38), it's just to say enough is enough. 

“But I want to give a big shout-out to the supporters and the organisation of the women's football league that I've seen for the past two seasons. Well done!” 

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Action from a Jamaica Women’s Premier League match between Cavalier and Real Mona.