Professional Soccer Arrives in Winnipeg
Winnipeg is set to welcome a new professional women’s soccer team, joining the Northern Super League as its seventh franchise. The league announced on Tuesday that the city has been officially awarded an expansion club, with preparations for the 2027 season already under way. This development marks a significant moment for women’s sports in the region, providing a professional pathway for local talent.
The new club is co-founded by former Canadian women’s national team player Desiree Scott and Rob Gale. Scott, who earned 188 caps for Canada and is an Olympic gold medallist, will serve as the club’s vice-president of community and player experience. Gale, whose background includes coaching for the Canada Soccer youth national team and serving as head coach for the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, will take on the role of chief sporting officer.
Scott, a Winnipeg native, expressed the importance of this opportunity for aspiring athletes. She highlighted that the league will bring attention to the team and create chances for players to pursue professional careers or play for the national team. Despite past retirement rumours, Scott confirmed she will not be returning to play, focusing instead on her executive role and the success of the players.
Gale, who previously helped launch Valour FC in Winnipeg as part of the Canadian Premier League, described the opportunity to build the province’s first women’s professional team as a unique privilege. He noted that building a club from scratch for a second time is a rare chance.
Community and League Vision
The league’s president, Christina Litz, also a Winnipeg native, explained that the expansion strategy aimed to add a team in a more central or western location to broaden the league’s national presence. Winnipeg’s team will be the league’s first expansion franchise and will begin play just two years after the inaugural NSL season in 2025.
Litz emphasized Winnipeg’s strong sporting culture, stating that the city had always demonstrated a desire for a professional team. She noted that professional women’s sports were a missing component in the city’s athletic landscape. The official name, crest, colours, and field location for the new team are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks and months.
A significant factor in the rapid expansion of the league is a recent financial boost, including a $30-million investment from APEX, a European-based athlete-backed sports private equity firm. Litz confirmed that the league aims to add an eighth team by 2028.
The Winnipeg club will be primarily owned by the league, but an independent management team led by Gale and Scott will oversee its operations. A local minority ownership group holds a 30 per cent stake in the club. The capital from the recent investment is partly being used to facilitate the launch of this team.
Impact and Future for Women’s Soccer
Both Scott and Gale envision the franchise as a vital resource for local talent, much of which they believe remains untapped. They also see the club serving as a cultural hub for Winnipeg’s diverse communities. Scott articulated this vision, stating, “This is a team for Manitobans, by Manitobans,” and expressed a desire for strong community involvement and support.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm at an event held at the Forks, where many attendees expressed pride and excitement for the future of women’s sports. Young players like Everleigh McLaughlin and Lyla Lagimodiere from FC Northwest shared their excitement about having a professional team in their city, seeing it as an opportunity for their own soccer journeys. Parents, such as Danielle McLaughlin, highlighted how the team could motivate girls to continue in sports, potentially leading to long careers in a sport they love.
Gale emphasized the unique game day experience the club aims to create, recognizing soccer as a widely participated and supported sport in Canada. He noted that this new platform offers women a chance to shine in a professional setting. Season ticket deposits for presale opened on Tuesday and will be available to the general public on Friday at 11 a.m. ET via winnipeg.nsl.ca.
The league’s president, Christina Litz, also told CBC Sports that the league understands the impact a professional women’s team has on inspiring future generations of players and aims for the league to be a catalyst for Canadian talent nationwide. The Northern Super League was founded by Canadian soccer figure Diana Matheson.
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Source: theglobeandmail.com
Chloe Tremblay is the Sports Reporter at CasinoNews, covering basketball, tennis and athletics with nine years of reporting experience. She reported on the Raptors' rise and two Olympic cycles. She holds a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. Based in Montreal, she plays recreational basketball and follows track athletics. “The best stories come from the athletes everyone overlooks.”
