Format

A preliminary round was played to reduce teams to 32, in the first season only two teams played a two-legged match, the following seasons were played as four team mini-tournaments which had the winner advance to the group stage. Teams were then divided into eight groups of four. The groups were played again as mini-tournaments at a single location over the course of five days. The group winners then advanced to the quarter-finals. The knock-out rounds were played as two-legged. That included the final which was only played as a single leg in 2002.

For the 2004–05 season the group stage was played in four groups with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals. That resulted in more qualifying groups.

On 11 December 2008, UEFA announced that the competition would be reformatted and renamed to the UEFA Women's Champions League.^[1] As in the men's game, the new tournament aims to include runners-up of the top women's football leagues in Europe,^[2] and the final is to be played in a single match.

On 31 March 2008 UEFA confirmed that the eight top countries according to the UEFA league coefficient between 2003 and 2004 and 2007–08 would be awarded two places in the new Women's Champions League.^[2] These leagues were:

While seven of the above associations have held a top eight spot until today several associations have entered the top eight. Due to coefficient changes ahead of 2010–11, Iceland gained a place in the top eight, at the expense of Norway. In 2012–13, Norway regained its top-eight place at Iceland's expense. Then, for 2013–14, Austria replaced Norway in the top eight. The Czech Republic replaced Austria in the top eight for 2014–15.^[3] In the current edition the Czech Republic itself is replaced by Spain.^[4]

Also in 2012–13, the berth for England's champion passed from the Women's Premier League to the country's new top level, the WSL. The following year, after the merger of the Belgium and Netherlands top divisions into a single binational league, the berths for those countries passed to the top team from each country in the new league.

The title holder has the right to enter if they do not qualify through their domestic competition, and will start in the round of 32.

The competition is open to the champions of all 55 UEFA associations. However, not all associations have or have had a women's league. For instance Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Gibraltar have never participated.

Due to the varying participation, the number of teams playing the qualifying round and teams entering in the round of 32 change from year to year.

Below is shown the number of teams starting in each round, given between 51 and 57 participants. The principles are inferred from the access list:^[5] Numbers are based on three principles:

Groups of 4 teams shall contest the qualifying rounds.
The group winners shall qualify for the main round.
The smallest possible number of qualifying group runners-up shall qualify for the main round.

Prize money

Prize-money was awarded for a first time in 2010 when both finalists received money. In 2011 the payments were extended to losing semi- and quarter-finalists.^[6] The current prize-money structure is

€250,000 winning team
€200,000 losing finalist
€50,000 losing semi-finalists
€25,000 losing quarter-finalists

In the Champions League teams also receive 20,000 Euro for playing each round or the qualifying. There have been several complaints about the sum, which doesn't cover costs for some longer trips which include flights.^[7]

Sponsorship

Until the 2015–18 cycle, UEFA Women's Champions League used to have the same sponsors as the UEFA Champions League. However, starting from the 2018–21 cycle, women's football competitions – including the Champions League – have their separate sponsors.^[8]

Records and statistics

Since the format change in 2009, no team from a nation outside the top two has made the final, save for Tyresö in 2014. Also, no team from a nation outside the top four made the semi-finals until Brøndby in 2015; Barcelona then made the semi-finals in 2017 and the final in 2019.

The top-scorer award is given to the player who scores the most goals in the entire competition, thus it includes the qualifying rounds. Iceland's Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir has won the award three times. Ada Hegerberg holds the record for most goals in a season.

International broadcasters

This article maybe not to be confused with List of UEFA Champions League broadcasters

Final only.^[12] The coverage will be live streamed on UEFA YouTube channel in the unsold markets with highlights available in all territories.

^NRD - FTA coverage only available in Sweden.