Lxme becomes title sponsor of the Indian Women’s League as Lxme IWL 2 kicks off
The women-focused finance platform puts its name on both tiers of Indian women’s club football. It is Capri Sports’ first major sponsorship deal since taking over the league’s commercial rights, and it was agreed in 15 minutes. The second tier, now the Lxme IWL 2, starts on 23 October with 20 clubs, including Youth Welfare Club, Manipur.
By PurePlay India Sports Desk · 22 October 2026
From left: Ridhi Kanoria Doongursee, Co-founder, Lxme; Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder, Lxme; and Jinisha Sharma, Director & Promoter, Capri Sports. Photo: Lxme / Capri Sports.
LxmeNew title sponsor
15 yrsCapri Sports’ commitment to the league
23 OctLxme IWL 2 kick-off
13 NovLxme IWL kick-off
Indian women’s club football has a title sponsor. Lxme, a financial platform built for women, has signed a multi-year deal with Capri Sports to become title sponsor of the Indian Women’s League. The deal was announced on 21 October 2026.
The sponsorship covers both tiers. In communication to participating clubs, the organisers confirmed that the second tier will now be called the Lxme Indian Women’s League 2, or Lxme IWL 2. The financial terms and the exact length of the deal were not disclosed.
It is the first major sponsorship since Capri Sports signed a 15-year agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) covering the commercial development and marketing rights for the IWL and IWL 2.
Fifteen minutes and a handshake
The deal began with a conversation that wasn’t meant to be a pitch at all. In a post on Instagram, Capri Sports Director Jinisha Sharma described how it came together.
Photo: Lxme / Capri Sports.
15 minutes
“It was supposed to be a regular catch-up with Priti. Chat about life, share what we’d been working on, briefly tell her about the IWL as Capri’s latest development. I did not expect to leave with a multi-year title partnership locked in.”
“But fifteen minutes was all it took. After so many conversations spent explaining the potential of women’s sport, here was someone who already saw what I saw.”
“The shortest pitch of my life, in a meeting I hadn’t even thought of as a pitch.”
Jinisha Sharma, on Instagram
For anyone who has worked in women’s football in India, the line that stands out is “after so many conversations spent explaining the potential of women’s sport”. Players, coaches and clubs have been having those conversations for years. The campaign around the announcement opened with the remarks they still hear: “Oh, women play football?” and “Who watches women’s games, yaar?”
“Women’s sport is good business”
Lxme was founded by Priti Rathi Gupta, with Ridhi Kanoria Doongursee as co-founder. It helps women manage their money, build wealth and make their own financial decisions. Both companies presented the deal as an extension of that idea into sport.
“We’ve always believed that women’s sport is good business. It needs investment, attention, and the same commercial ambition that has helped build successful sporting properties around the world.”
“When we committed to 15 years of building the Indian Women’s League, we did so because we see the potential to create something of real value for clubs, players, fans and brands. Having Lxme come on board so early in that journey is particularly meaningful because they understand this philosophy. They’ve built their own business around recognising and investing in the economic potential of women.”
“For us, this partnership is about much more than a logo on a jersey. It’s about bringing together businesses that are willing to back their convictions and help build the future of women’s football in India.”
Jinisha Sharma, Director & Promoter, Capri Sports
“Women’s potential should never be limited by how much space they are given.”
“At Lxme, we have always believed that women’s financial independence deserves to be taken as seriously as every other aspect of their empowerment. Our mission has been to challenge the notion that women’s financial futures can take a backseat. We see a similar need in sport, where women athletes continue to deserve greater visibility, investment and opportunity.”
“Our partnership with Capri Sports is a natural extension of this belief. Whether in finance or on the field, empowering women to take charge, participate and succeed on their own terms creates value that extends far beyond the individual.”
Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder, Lxme
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan said the second tier “provides a valuable pathway for clubs and players”. That pathway is real: last season’s IWL 2 champions, HOPS FC, and runners-up, Juba Sangha FC, both play in the top flight this season.
Lxme IWL 2 and Lxme IWL: the season at a glance
League
Format
Dates
Lxme IWL 2
20 clubs in four groups of five. The four group winners and the two best runners-up reach a six-team final round.
Group stage from 23 Oct; final round from 25 Nov
Lxme IWL
8 clubs, double round-robin, 56 matches across Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Bengaluru
13 Nov 2026 – 23 Jan 2027
Source: AIFF. East Bengal FC are the defending IWL champions.
Where to watch
The league’s official broadcast graphics direct fans to SportVot for live matches and highlights.
Manipur’s interest: YWC in the hunt
Manipur’s only side in the Lxme IWL 2 this season is Youth Welfare Club (YWC), Manipur, champions of the Manipur Women’s League. They are coached by former India international Tomba Singh Wangkheirakpam, known in the state as “Golden Tomba”.
The squad includes six of the India U17 players who helped the national team qualify for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 in China. Manipur supplied 11 of the 23 players in that India squad.
For YWC and the other 19 clubs, the route to the top flight runs through the group stage that starts tomorrow, then the six-team final round from 25 November.
From PurePlay India
A dedicated home for the Lxme IWL and Lxme IWL 2
To support women’s football in India, PurePlay India is launching a dedicated Lxme IWL and Lxme IWL 2 section on pureplayindia.in. It will cover both leagues across the season, with a special focus on the clubs and players from Manipur and the Northeast who make up so much of the national team.
Fixtures & resultsBoth tiers, updated through the season
Match reportsKey games, goals and standings
Player storiesThe people behind the jerseys, from grassroots to India
Club spotlightsNortheast and Manipur clubs, coaches and academies
Our work with Youth Welfare Club, Manipur
PurePlay India is the official consultant and media partner of YWC, Manipur, and has worked with the club since July 2026. Ahead of the Lxme IWL 2, our joint initiatives include:
Club media for the Lxme IWL 2 campaign: match content, player profiles and YWC’s social channels throughout the season.
Official Jersey Launch and send-off: a ceremony at the Kumngaipat Sports Complex, Thambalkhong, on 17 October. It honoured the club’s six India U17 internationals and thanked the donors and well-wishers behind the campaign.
A legends friendly: a PurePlay India XI featuring former India internationals played YWC at the Classic Football Academy ground in Loitang, giving the squad a final competitive test before travelling.
Sponsorship and partnerships: connecting YWC with brands and supporters inside and outside Manipur, including PurePlay’s partner Sports Collective, which is backing the club through the season.
A campaign across Manipur: street banners and community outreach to rally support for the state’s only Lxme IWL 2 side.
Why it matters
A title sponsor at league level means more visibility for the IWL and IWL 2, and more commercial attention on women’s club football in India. Clubs, however, still depend heavily on their own sponsors and supporters. That is hardest in states like Manipur, which produces many of India’s women internationals but has little corporate sponsorship.
Lxme’s deal shows that brands see value in women’s football, and that the right conversation can happen in 15 minutes. The next step is for that belief to reach the clubs where these players are developed.
PurePlay India will follow YWC, Manipur and the wider Lxme IWL 2 throughout the season. Fixtures, results and match reports will be at pureplayindia.in.
Disclosure: PurePlay India is the official consultant and media partner of YWC, Manipur. Sponsorship details and quotes are from statements by Capri Sports and Lxme published on 21 October 2026, and from Jinisha Sharma’s Instagram post. Season format and dates are from the AIFF. Photos: Lxme / Capri Sports.
