The UCI has identified eight returning teams that have applied for registration as women's world teams; SD Worx (now Boels Dolmans) is the only new team to apply for both a license and registration, bringing the total number of top teams in 2021 to nine.

Women's professional cycling underwent a reform implemented at the beginning of the 2020 season. As part of that reform, a new two-tier team system was introduced: a World Team and a Continental Team.

World Team licenses are subject to more stringent financial requirements, including paying minimum salaries to riders and providing health and social benefits.

Last year, up to eight teams were granted top-level licenses: Alè BTC Ljubljana, Canyon-Sram, FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope, Mitchelton-Scott, CCC-Liv, Movistar Team Women, Team Sunweb, and Trek-Segafredo.

Boels Dolmans had been ranked number one in the world for five consecutive seasons, but was unable to meet the requirements to obtain a world team license due to the end of its contracts with title sponsors Boels Rental and Dolmans Landscape.

The team succeeded in finding a long-term sponsor, SD Worx, through 2024.

The UCI set an annual goal of a two-team system, with the goal of adding a new team to the highest level each season; licenses issued between 2020 and 2023 will be for four years for those issued in 2020, three years in 2021, and two years in 2022, The validity period will be shorter.

In 2020, eight teams will comprise the top league, in 2021 up to 12 teams, and in 2022 up to 15 teams will receive licenses.

After 2024, according to the UCI website, the validity of licenses will be determined by the UCI Women's WorldTeams ranking. The top 5 teams in the ranking will be valid for 4 years, 6th to 10th for 3 years, and 11th to 15th for 2 years.

Notable name changes among the applicant teams are CCC-Liv, which will change its name to Liv Racing, and Mitchelton Scott, which will change its name to GreenEdge Cycling, the name of the team's management company.

CCC-Liv released a statement after the UCI announced the team, saying, "CCC will no longer be the head sponsor next season, but will remain involved as a partner."

Polish footwear company CCC has decided to end its sponsorship of the men's WorldTour team at the end of this year, having been hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic and its economic impact.

A spokesperson for the women's team reiterated that the two teams are separate organizations and have different contractual agreements with CCC, but it now appears that the company will not remain as title sponsor of the women's team either. The teams have always made it clear that their goal is to continue the sport at the highest level.

Team SD Walks Alley BTC Ljubljana Cipollini Canyon Slam Racing FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope Green Edge Cycling Liv Racing Movistar Team Women Team Sunweb Trek Segafredo [27]