The Women's Super League is to undergo a radical overhaul in its calendar from next season.

The FA announced today 2016 will be the last year the showpiece domestic leagues, WSL 1 and the more recently-formed WSL 2, in which Watford Ladies currently compete, will be played from March until November.

From 2017, the elite women's footballing calendar will instead run September-May, mirroring the men's game and giving the divisions better integration with the FA Cup and Women's Champions League.

Since WSL was launched in 2011, teams have faced a month off from late May to June – while cup competitions are still ongoing – and international tournaments, such as next year's European Championships in the Netherlands, run during the second half of the league season, pulling players out of their club squads.

Next year a spring tournament will be held in each of the two super league divisions, named the Spring Series, from February to May to act as a precursor to the permenant re-organisation of their structure.

FA director of football participation and development Kelly Simmons said: “The FA is committed to investing in women’s football and aims to double participation and attendances by 2020, as well as creating the right environment for England to have the best chance of winning the 2023 World Cup and we believe that these changes will help us to further achieve these aims."