The 2016 Scottish Women's Premier League 2 was the first season of the SWPL 2 as the second-highest division of women's football in Scotland. The existing Scottish Women's Premier League (with 12 teams in the 2015 season) was split into two divisions of eight teams each, "SWPL 1" and "SWPL 2", with both above the Scottish Women's Football League First Division (SWFL 1). The change was made to increase competitiveness in the league. SWPL 2 became the new level 2 Scottish women's league, displacing the First Division (SWFL 1) to level 3.
The restructuring had begun in 2015 by requiring four SWPL clubs to be effectively relegated. Lewis Melee quoted a manager critical of the SWF's consultation and lack of notice for the league's new clubs: "Rather than saying we need to finish 11th for our first year in the league they were having to finish 8th and they didn’t have a 6 to 12-month plan to prepare… they were probably the ones that suffered more than anyone".
The first champions of SWPL 2 were Hamilton Academical, replacing Forfar Farmington in the top tier for the 2017 season.
Format.
In the first season after the reduction to eight teams a new format is played. Teams will play each other three times, with the bottom placed team being relegated after the season. The split into a championship and relegation group is discontinued.
Standings.
Teams will play 21 matches each.
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