The AFL Women's competition might have grabbed most of the media attention last season – particularly for its aggressive raids on players from other sports – but Australia's female soccer players have now been given a major incentive to stick with the world game in the shape of "significantly" improved pay and conditions.

The FFA and the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, on Monday announced what they described as a "landmark" collective bargaining agreement between the two organisations and the W-League clubs, a deal that is expected to more than double the average pay packet of W-League players to $15,500 for the upcoming season. The previous average was $6909.

(Left to right) W-League player Kim Carroll, FFA's head of women's football Emma Highwood, FFA CEO David Gallop and PFA CEO John Didulica. Credit:AAP

Under the new two-year agreement, all players - other than those on scholarships - are guaranteed a minimum retainer of at least $10,000 for the coming season and $12,200 for the 2018/19 season, with no prescribed cap on how much any individual player can be paid on a retainer.

The extra cash will come from improved grants to the clubs who field W-League teams as a result of the extra cash generated by the sport's new $346 million six-year broadcast deal.