Special Contributor/Shen Jun Facing a scenario where a draw would secure the title, Liaoning Women’s Football Team was defeated 0-4 on Beijing’s turf, settling for third place. For a newly promoted team with an average age of just 21, claiming third place is quite an achievement — in 2022, they won the National Youth League; in 2023, they finished second in the Women’s League Two; in 2024, they captured the Women’s League One title; and in 2025, they secured third place in the Women’s Super League. This rapid “four-level leap” over four years reflects the team’s relentless effort and growth from scratch over the past eight years.

Collapse Under Pressure

In the championship match, the young Liaoning team faced immense pressure. After conceding the first goal, they became increasingly anxious, making mistakes both offensively and defensively, conceding three more goals, and narrowly missing out on the title.

After the game, the players were in tears, with head coach Ma Lin comforting each of them personally. Reflecting on the match, Ma Lin said, “This was their first experience in such a decisive battle. The players are still very young and their mindset wasn’t stable enough facing this ‘do-or-die’ match. What we lack is the ability to maintain firm confidence and composure regardless of circumstances or difficulties. Clearly, we need to improve mentally. But looking at the whole season, as a newly promoted team fighting until the end, even though we just missed out on the championship, it’s still a remarkable achievement.”

Captain and national player Wang Aifang expressed deep regret: “I feel it’s still my fault for not seizing the opportunities, especially since there were several matches before that we should have won…”

Liaoning Women’s Football Team was founded in 1981 but disbanded in 1985 due to program adjustments. In early 2017, after 32 years, the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau re-established the team. Former national player and ex-Shandong player Ma Lin was entrusted with the task, selecting over 20 young players aged around eleven or twelve from across the province to begin their development journey.

In the early stages, Liaoning’s results were unimpressive, often ranking outside the top ten for the first two years. However, through sheer determination and intense training—practicing three to four times daily, with sessions lasting six to seven hours—they bridged the gap with more effort than others. This hard work enabled the young players to develop rapidly.

In 2022, Liaoning won the Youth League championship; in 2023, they competed in Women’s League Two, finishing second and earning promotion to Women’s League One; in 2024, they topped the championship group in Women’s League One with a record of 6 wins and 1 draw, winning the title and securing promotion to the Super League. The experience in League One matured the team, significantly enhancing their technical and tactical skills as well as team cohesion—a quality deeply connected to the players growing up together and their strong sense of honor. At the end of 2024, they won the championship again at the nation’s first Youth Three-ball Sports Games.

Strong Support Removes Worries

In 2025, even after recruiting three foreign players and several domestic reinforcements, Liaoning’s average age remained just 21. The initial plan was to stabilize their position in the Super League and build strength, aiming to challenge for the championship within three years. However, in the opening match, they caused a major upset by defeating Wuhan Women’s Football Team 3-0 away. Since then, this young squad has stirred a “youth storm,” consistently ranking in the top three and becoming strong contenders for the title.

Liaoning’s rise is not only due to the team’s own efforts but also strong support from various parties. In 2023, Shenyang’s Shenbei New District partnered with Liaoning Women’s Football Team, and Hefeng Animal Husbandry provided annual sponsorships, greatly improving training and match conditions. Ma Lin recalled, “Previously, there were no prize money for youth competitions; most players were underage and only received minimal training and match subsidies, without salaries. After the club was established, all aspects of support improved, and players finally began receiving bonuses—the club set up multiple awards such as goal, assist, and defense prizes to motivate everyone to fight hard and focus on every detail. This was a key reason Liaoning progressed from League Two to finishing third in the Super League.”

Beyond club-level support, under the promotion of the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau, all 21 players received athlete employment status in early 2024, relieving their worries. Ma Lin said, “With this status, players receive a fixed monthly salary and bonuses from the Sports Bureau. For those whose incomes are generally low, this is invaluable. It is with these comprehensive improvements in support that players can compete with greater determination and strive for higher achievements.”

As Liaoning Women’s Football Team quickly rose, a group of promising stars were also selected for national teams. In the latest Chinese women’s national training roster, Wang Aifang, Xie Zongmei, and Zhou Xinyu were included. Among them, 19-year-old Wang Aifang represents the new generation and is one of the youngest national players. She has consistently been a key player in the youth national teams and was first called up to the senior team in 2023, scoring in a friendly match last year.

This season’s journey has been a valuable lesson in Liaoning’s growth. Although they narrowly missed the championship, “no rain, no rainbow.” They will once again challenge for the title at this year’s National Games and next year’s Women’s Super League.