| Duration | 4 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Winners | St Helens |
| Runners-up | York City Knights |
The 2021 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2022 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 9th edition of the rugby league knockout tournament, and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last edition being played in 2019 as the 2020 edition was cancelled.
The Cup was won by St Helens who beat York City Knights 36–4 in the final at Leigh Sports Village on 5 June 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom, the Rugby Football League limited entry to the 2021 competition to the 10 clubs playing in the 2021 Women's Super League. A preliminary round saw the two new teams to the Super League, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, play each other. York City Knights and Wakefield Trinity who finished 7th and 8th in the 2019 Women's Super League contested the other preliminary round tie. The two winning teams advanced to the quarter-finals where the other six teams joined the competition. The preliminary round and the quarter-finals were played at neutral grounds and behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.[1]
The final was played on 5 June as part of a triple-header with the semi-finals of the men's tournament.[2] For the first time the final was shown live on TV as it was shown on BBC Two.[3]