In November 2018, it was announced that Warrington Wolves were to launch a women's team and that team trials had been organised to take place in December.[1] There had previously been a Warrington Wolves women's team established in 2002 who also who used Victoria Park.[2] In 2004, the team competed in the Women's League Division Three[2] and won the Plate Final of the Women's Amateur Rugby League Association in 2007.[3][4] In 2008, they joined the Women's Rugby League Conference, winning the Championship Final in 2011, and then also competing in the 2012 Women's Challenge Cup.[2][5][6] Warrington also had girls' teams for several age groups;[7]Emily Rudge had been with the U16s when selected for the England squad for the 2008 World Cup.[8] In July 2009, five Warrington players, including Rudge and Jodie Cunningham, were named in the England squad for the two-test series against France.[9]
The community coach at Warrington, Lee Westwood, said in 2018 that the women's team would "provide a pathway for all girls from 11 years old to open age".[1] For their first season the team entered the Championship with the aim of joining the Super League in 2020.[1] Despite losing their first match of the season 28–20 at Barrow,[10] Warrington defeated Widnes 40–10 the following week[11] and went on to finish top of the Championship.[12] A 36–4 victory over Huddersfield Giants in the play-off semi-final saw Warrington progress to the final on 12 October in which they defeated Barrow 40–4 to take the Championship title.[13][14] Their top four finish in the league meant that they, along with Huddersfield, were accepted into the Super League for the following season.[15] In the Challenge Cup Warrington reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners Leeds Rhinos.[16]
In 2020, Warrington were to face Barrow again, this time in the second round of the Challenge Cup.[17] However, a week before the match the RFL suspended all competitions.[18] The cancellation of the women's 2020 season was announced in August.[19] This included the Super League in which Warrington had been due to make their debut on 29 March against Wigan Warriors.[20] The following season, on 18 April 2021, Warrington played their first Super League game and lost 52–8 to Wigan.[21] Their first win, 44–8 over Huddersfield, came in Round 5 of the season.[22] After finishing the regular season in 8th place, Warrington took part in the Shield competition, but lost 30–26 to Huddersfield after golden point extra time in the semi-final[23] Warrington reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup but lost 6–26 to Castleford Tigers.[24]
In 2022, there was a new format for the Challenge Cup that introduced a group stage from which Warrington advanced to the quarter-finals where they were defeated by Leeds.[25][26] The structure of the Super League season also changed and Warrington were placed in Group 2 of the competition.[27] Warrington finished the regular season top of their group by winning all 12 matches including a 102–0 victory over Wakefield Trinity.[28][29] Warrington then claimed the Shield by winning 72–0 over Bradford Bulls in the semi-final and 34–6 over Featherstone Rovers in the final to earn promotion to Group 1 for the 2023 Super League season.[28][30] In 2023, Warrington reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup for a four successive campaign.[31] Lee Westwood stepped down from his role as head coach at the end of the 2023 season and was succeeded by former player and team captain Armani Sharrock.[32] Warrington continued their run of Challenge Cup quarter-final appearances in 2024 for a fifth successive tournament.[33] In the Super League a loss to Huddersfield on the final day of the regular season saw Warrington finish the season in seventh place, but six points clear of potential relegation.[34] At the end of the season, Sharrock stepped down as head coach and was succeeded in the role by Ged Ginty who was appointed on 4 December 2024.[35]
