1996–97 Women's National Soccer League

The 1996–97 Women's National Soccer League was the first season of the Women's National Soccer League, the former top Australian women's professional soccer league, since its establishment in 1996. Sponsored by Ansett Airlines, it was the first organized Australia-wide female football competition.

Teams
Six teams competed in the league split into a north and south conference. The teams were mostly representative sides of their states elite sporting institutes.

Group 1

 * ACT Academy of Sport
 * SA Sports Institute
 * Victoria ITC

Group 2

 * Northern NSW ITC
 * NSW Institute of Sport
 * Queensland Academy of Sport