All-female Lionesses face mixed-team rule after top-flight promotion

She Plays To Win Lionesses A won Four Nations Chess League Division 2 to earn promotion to the 12-team top division, completing a second consecutive title-winning promotion.

The Lionesses competed as an all-female team in Division 2. In Division 1, 4NCL rules require every team to include both male and female players, meaning the promoted side cannot keep the same all-female lineup.

The league says the mixed-team rule has applied to its top division since 1994 and is intended to support female participation. Team members argue that adding a male player would undermine the identity and camaraderie that helped them reach the top flight.

The 4NCL said captains surveyed during the 2025/26 season showed no significant appetite to change the rule, while leaving open the possibility of a future review.

Photo: She Plays To Win.