Change is coming to the W-League as league chiefs consider a raft of reforms aimed at bolstering Australia's women's domestic competition and the Matildas.

The biggest impact for fans could be the missing stars - led by Australian skipper and striker extraordinaire Sam Kerr - who is likely to test her talents for Chelsea in England's Women's Super League.

Both head office and Perth Glory have privately given up hope of keeping Kerr for the W-League's 11th season.

"It looks unlikely that she'll return to play in the W-League this year, but Sam has not or her management hasn't informed us of where she might play," FFA head of leagues Greg O'Rourke told AAP.

Kerr is finishing her US club season along with a raft of other Matildas.

With another golden boot-winning campaign, Kerr has taken the Chicago Red Stars to the play-offs where she'll be joined by five other Australians - Lydia Williams and Steph Catley at Reign FC and Hayley Raso, Caitlin Foord and Ellie Carpenter of Portland Thorns.

The longstanding alignment between the US league and W-League has kept senior Matildas in action for the whole calendar year, serving Australian talent well.

But it's being firmly re-considered as FFA, with a watchful eye to growing European leagues, ensures the W-League is a "top five league".

Living Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna has opted against a W-League campaign this summer and is scoring goals for Fiorentina in Italy, while Emily Gielnik has headed to German giants Bayern Munich.

Others could also head to the increasingly professional European leagues.

While that means Australian fans will miss out on seeing Matildas stars, players union chief John Didulica said their moves should be applauded.

"(We're) about increasing the options and opportunities for players," he told AAP.

"This might necessarily lead to some of our world class players ending up at the world's largest football institutions, but that is a great thing for the game and the players.

"The challenge for the W-League is to ensure that the gap between its own club operations and the world's leading clubs isn't allowed to become too big and that they remain as attractive destinations."