New team, investment and competition: The women’s Northern Super League is on the rise

In its second year, the women's Northern Super League (NSL) has received a boost from investment and expansion plans, signaling the growing momentum of women's soccer in Canada. Co-founded by former Canada national team player Diana Matheson, the NSL announced plans to add a team in Winnipeg in 2027. The league has also secured investment from London-based sports investment firm APEX, which will inject up to $30 million into the women's league, along with a $5.45 million pledge from the Canadian government, which was made at the league's first championship last year.

Former Canada national team player Quinn, who played for the Seattle Reign in the United States, is an early signee for the Vancouver Rise. She notes that the league's growth sets a high standard for the teams, with strong crowds and ample resources. Canada's women's soccer scene has been growing globally, with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expanding this season by adding two new teams - Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, with two more teams expected in Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio, in 2028.

The English Women's Super League has also added two teams from the second-tier league, bringing the WSL to 14 teams.

Canada was one of only two countries that played in the 2023 Women's World Cup without a domestic professional league, the other being Haiti. Players for the Canadian national team had long complained about the lack of a professional league in their home country. The NSL kicked off last year with six teams - Halifax Tides, Montreal Roses, Calgary Wild, Ottawa Rapid, AFC Toronto, and Vancouver Rise. The league's sponsors included Coca-Cola, Toyota, and DoorDash.

Quinn, a gold medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, scored the NSL's first goal, converting a penalty for a 1-0 victory over Calgary in front of over 14,000 fans at BC Place. The Rise went on to win the championship, defeating AFC Toronto 2-1 before 12,429 fans at Toronto's BMO Field. NSL president Christina Litz expressed the league's ambition for long-term growth and stability, as well as moving from startup to scaling.