2002 saw the introduction of the National Women's Soccer League, an eight-team round-robin affair which replaced the long-standing National Women's Soccer Tournament as the provincial showpiece of the women's soccer season. The seven federations (complete with names which offer little to identify which area of the country they represent) were joined by the NZ Under-17s (for whom this competition marks the beginning of their preparations for the 2004 U-19 Women's World Cup Finals) in the new contest, which saw a new trophy (pictured right) introduced to go with it. The old saying, "The more things change, the more things stay the same", applied to one aspect of the new league - Auckland (Soccer2) were the inaugural champions. The old National Tournament championship trophy was also utilised in the new competition, and given a new lease of life as the New Zealand Women's Soccer Challenge Cup. Capital Soccer (Wellington), as winners of the last National Tournament, were deemed the inaugural holders of the trophy, and made their first defence of it in their first home game of the 2002 NWSL season, against Mainland Soccer (Canterbury). Of the individual awards, only the Top Goalscorer's trophy was retained, with Liz O'Meara (pictured right) the proud recipient, the United Soccer (North Harbour) speedster having scored eight goals in her team's seven games. Some noteworthy milestones from the inaugural NWSL season:

First game	Auckland (Soccer2) 3-0 Wellington (Capital), McLennan Park, Papakura, 12/10/02
First goal	Kristy Hill (Auckland), after 34 minutes in the above match
First hat-trick	Emily McColl (NZ U-17s) v. Southern Soccer, Tahuna Park, Dunedin, 28/10/02
Champions	Auckland (Soccer2)
Top Goalscorer	Liz O'Meara (North Harbour (United)), 8 goals
Challenge Cup holders	Canterbury (Mainland)