In Australian football codes, the term state league is used to describe competition at a level below that of national leagues. Most of these competitions are based in a single state, and from this the term originates.
The Australian federation consists of six states and two territories. Historically the highest level of club-based sports were the various leagues based in each state and territory. The change to national leagues began in 1977 when the National Soccer League was formed with clubs in most capital cities. Australian football and rugby leagues followed suit during the 1980s when the Victorian and New South Welsh leagues began to admit clubs from other states.
The State League is the premier domestic women's one-day cricket competition in New Zealand. The competition was first competed in the 2001–02 season, when it replaced the State Insurance Cup, which had run since 1998–99. It is contested with a ten-match group stage, in which each of the six teams plays each twice; once home and once away. The two teams that finish at the top of the table then compete in a final to determine the champions.
The five teams which competed in the inaugural season of the State Insurance Cup; Auckland Hearts, Canterbury Magicians, Central Districts Hinds, Otago Sparks and the Wellington Blaze were joined in the following 1999–2000 season by a sixth team; Northern Districts Spirit.
The inaugural State Insurance Cup was won by Canterbury, beating Auckland by 167 runs. The same two sides contested the next four finals, with Auckland winning on each occasion. The first final not to involve one of the two sides was in 2003–04, when rain prevented any play, resulting in a shared title between Canterbury and Wellington. Canterbury went on to claim four of the next six titles, with Central Districts winning both the remaining competitions, in 2005–06 and 2009–10.