VfL Bochum (women)

VfL Bochum (women) is a women's association football club from Bochum, Germany. It is part of the VfL Bochum club.

History
VfL Bochum began its cooperation with TuS Harpen on July 1, 2008. TuS Harpen competed in the Regionalliga until its acquisition by VfL Bochum on July 1, 2010. During this period, another Bochum-based club, SG Wattenscheid 09, faced financial difficulties and dissolved, leading all their players to join the newly formed VfL Bochum women's team.

In their first two seasons in the Regionalliga West, VfL Bochum finished as runners-up. They became champions in their third season, earning promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.

On October 1, 2014, VfL Bochum 1848 announced that it would disband its women's football division at the end of the 2014–15 season to save 120,000 euros annually. This decision was met with sharp criticism from VfL fans. The fan club unserVfL.de stated in an open letter that the board's decision "cannot be reconciled with the values of the club" and accused the board of "trampling on social responsibility." However, on October 20, 2014, an extraordinary general meeting decided to retain the women's football division.

Despite this, the club withdrew the team from the 2014–15 2. Bundesliga, even though they had a mid-table finish. In the Regionalliga West, VfL Bochum finished as runners-up behind Borussia Bocholt in the 2017–18 season. Since June 20, 2018, the department has had a cooperation with the Swiss club FC Oerlikon Polizei Zürich, which includes an exchange of coaches and players.

The club remained in the Regionalliga West until they became champions of the 2023–24 season, earning promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga, following a 6–3 victory on aggregate over Mainz in the promotion play-off final.