Northern Super League Debuts in Canada: Vancouver Rise FC Faces Calgary Wild FC Before 10,000 Fans at BC Place

Canada's first professional women's soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL), began its inaugural season on April 16, 2025, with a match between Vancouver Rise FC and Calgary Wild FC at BC Place in Vancouver. More than 10,000 tickets were sold for the opening match, and the first 12,000 fans received supporter scarves. The NSL was founded by former national team player Diana Matheson, who also serves as chief growth officer, and originated from Project 8. NSL president Christina Litz leads the league, which features six teams: Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC, AFC Toronto, Ottawa Rapid FC, Montreal Roses FC, and Halifax Tides FC. AFC Toronto will play Montreal Roses at BMO Field in another season-opening match. Each NSL team will play a 25-match regular season, with the top four advancing to home-and-away semi-finals and a single-match championship game scheduled for November 15. The league has signed 132 players, including 87 Canadians and 45 internationals, with 40 players having national team experience. The NSL has established a minimum player salary of $50,000 and a $1.6 million salary cap per team, covering 20 to 25 players, with one designated player exempt from the cap. The initial franchise fee was $1 million, and teams are expected to invest $8-10 million over the first five seasons. The league has secured major sponsors such as BMO, Canadian Tire, Coca-Cola, DoorDash, Sport Chek, Toyota, and WestJet, and broadcasts are produced by Dome Productions and carried on TSN, CBC, RDS, Radio-Canada, and ESPN+. The league's launch has created approximately 500 jobs across Canada, including roles for players, coaches, staff, and women in sports business and media. Notable investors include Christine Sinclair, Josh Morrissey, Charlie Trafford, Bruny Surin, Patrice Bernier, and Andre De Grasse. Legal support for league and team operations has come from multiple law firms, with Ottawa Rapid FC's chief operating officer Stephanie Spruston among those involved. The NSL plans to add two more teams for the 2027 season. In the United States, the Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL) announced the launch of WPSL Pro, a second-division women's professional league set to begin in late 2026. The league, which expects to start with 16-20 teams, aims to address a player development gap in the U.S. women's soccer system. Cleveland Soccer Group will be a founding club, with plans to build a $50 million, 10,000-seat stadium. Each WPSL Pro team will pay a $1 million franchise fee.