On April 16, the Northern Super League (NSL) will kick off its inaugural match, marking the launch of Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. The inaugural season will feature six clubs: AFC Toronto, Montreal Roses FC, Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, and Ottawa Rapids FC. The full schedule of fixtures will be announced in February. 

The league was co-founded by former Canadian Women’s National Team (CWNT) midfielder and Oakville native Diana Matheson. According to Matheson on the NSL website, the NSL aims to “build a women’s pro soccer league that would not only change the pathways and futures of Canadian players but reshape the Canadian sports industry and its fans.” 

Until the league’s debut, the highest level of domestic women’s soccer in Canada was the pro-amateur league, League1 Canada. Historically, top Canadian players have pursued careers in the US or Europe. For example, Canadian legend Christine Sinclair played 12 seasons in America’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with the Portland Thorns while CWNT star Ashley Lawrence currently represents Chelsea in England’s Women’s Super League.

NSL promises a minimum salary of $50,000 and full trade protection for its players. By comparison, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) — Canada’s domestic men’s professional soccer league — offers a minimum salary of $30,000. Heading into its 13th year, the NWSL will offer a minimum salary of $48,500 USD for the upcoming season. In Major League Soccer — North America’s premier men’s soccer league and home to Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Montréal Impact FC — primary roster players earn a minimum salary of $89,716 USD

CWNT has been one of the best national teams in the world: since 2003, the team has averaged eighth place in the FIFA World Rankings and is currently ranked sixth. In contrast, the men’s national team (CMNT) is currently ranked 31st, their highest-ever position. Both teams have made significant strides in recent years, with the CWNT winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the CMNT finishing fourth in their Copa América debut last summer. 

Despite the CWNT’s continued success on the pitch, their achievements have been often overshadowed by the mismanagement of their governing body, Canada Soccer. Both the men’s and women’s teams have been embroiled in wage disputes with Canada Soccer leading to strikes in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the CWNT faced allegations of illegally spying on opponents during the Paris Olympics in the widely reported drone scandal

The potential of a domestic league

The potential impact of a domestic soccer league on the national level is immense. In the men’s game, the CPL has created pathways for Canadian players to higher leagues, with seven former CPL players being named to the 2024 Copa América preliminary squad. This positive influence extends to coaching as well. Last September, York United FC Head Coach Mauro Eustáquio — brother of CMNT star Stephan Eustáquio — was invited to assist at CMNT’s national training camp as a coach. It’s reasonable to expect a similar ripple effect in the women’s game, fostering further success for the national team. Ultimately, the increase in teams and professional opportunities for Canadian soccer players can only be seen as a positive development. 

The league could also potentially provide a pathway for Canadian collegiate athletes post-U Sports — the national league in which the Varsity Blues compete. Currently, women’s soccer players in U Sports face limited options: retiring from the sport or pursuing professional opportunities overseas.

The NSL aims to ‘build a women’s pro soccer league that would not only change the pathways and futures of Canadian players but reshape the Canadian sports industry and its fans.’

In contrast, the CPL has established a dedicated U Sports Draft, allowing teams to select promising university players for their league. This year, Blues rookie standout Nicholas Hallam was selected fourth overall by Pacific FC while captain Mehdi Essoussi was chosen 10th overall by Vancouver FC. Lukas MacNaughton — the first Blue to sign an MLS contract — developed his professional career in the CPL at Pacific FC before signing for Nashville SC. 

While no agreements currently exist between the NSL and U Sports, it seems likely that the NSL will introduce a draft or a similar mechanism to integrate university players into the league. 

AFC Toronto and beyond 

AFC Toronto will play their inaugural season at York Lions Stadium. The team is headlined by CWNT midfielder Emma Regan and will be coached by former Toronto Metropolitan University assistant coach Marko Milanovic. Other notable figures in the league include long-time Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod (Halifax), Denmark legend and head coach Katrine Pedersen (Ottawa), and former CWNT defender Shannon Woeller (Vancouver). Team rosters will continue to be revealed in the lead-up to the league’s launch.

The league’s debut marks a continuation of the immense momentum behind women’s sports in Canada. The Professional Women’s Hockey League is currently in its second season after breaking records in its inaugural season. Additionally, the Women’s National Basketball Association has announced a new expansion team to Toronto, set to begin play in 2026. With Canada’s second-ever Women’s World Cup and first-ever Men’s World Cup on the 2026 horizon, the NSL is poised to further elevate soccer in Canada.