When Diana Matheson retired from the Canadian Women’s National Soccer team, she couldn’t help noticing that despite being ranked among FIFA’s top 10 nations, Canada had no professional women’s soccer league. It’s a support system every other top-10 country had. Motivated by this glaring gap, and with the backing of several current and former National Team players, Matheson decided it was time for Canada to address that lack.
“There are 30 professional women’s soccer leagues around the globe, and we don’t have one in Canada,” said Denna Zumwalt, Chair of the Calgary Wild, one of the founding six clubs of the new league. “At the last FIFA Women’s World Cup, only two teams were participating that didn’t have pro teams, and it’s Canada and Haiti.”
Without a professional league in Canada, players at a professional level were forced to play abroad or join semi-professional teams at home, lacking the financial backing and structure needed for real growth. As a result, the talent pool of Canadian players never reached its full potential, with fewer opportunities to develop within their own country.
Matheson got to work securing Calgary’s first franchise rights, with Vancouver quickly following. Soon, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa joined the movement. This coming spring, the six teams are set to kick off play in the Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league.
“It’s not just another sports team,” says Zumwalt. “It is special because it’s the first professional women’s sports club in the entire city,” said Zumwalt. “And it’s only one of two in Western Canada.”
In October 2023, a survey showed that soccer is the most popular sport in Canada in terms of participation. Zumwalt attributes this to the sport’s universal appeal and unique ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds.
“Soccer is the most played sport in Canada. It’s not hockey, it’s not basketball — it’s soccer,” says Zumwalt. “Its power to connect communities through a shared passion for the game is truly significant.”
The team aims to inspire young women to participate in sports by providing them positive role models and something to aspire to.
“We’ll keep [players] involved in sport for longer because they have something to aspire to. They have something to work towards,” said Zumwalt. “Two per cent will probably go on to play professional soccer, but that other 98 per cent will go onto amazing things off the pitch.”
According to a Canadian Women in Sport study, participation levels among Canadian girls in sports are significantly lower than those of boys, with a much higher dropout rate. By late adolescence, one in three girls quit sports, compared to just one in ten boys. I firmly believe that we’ll see participation by young women grow around the game,” said Zumwalt. “We’ll keep them involved in sport for longer because they have something to aspire to. They have something to work towards.”
Lara Murphy, who previously played professional soccer overseas, was brought in to help the Calgary Wild find a place to play. The team is now set to call McMahon Stadium their home.
Murphy’s journey to professional soccer began when she was recruited at age 16 to play in England. She then played university soccer and represented Canada at the first Canada Games, in which women’s soccer was included. Her career took her across Europe, the United States, and even Bermuda, where she continued to develop her skills and passion for the sport.
“There are 150+ Canadians that play abroad in different professional leagues, and having this league and the team in Calgary will open up a vast amount of opportunities for players to be in their home country, maybe their home city,” says Murphy.
The league and team aim to empower women on the field and in every role behind the scenes. This includes opportunities for women in front — and back-of-house positions. Last month, the club announced Murphy as the Wild’s CEO and Lisa Oldridge as CFO and COO.
“Our real drive, our purpose for being, is to elevate a generation of young female leaders on and off the pitch through sport,” says Zumwalt. “And we know we can do that.”
Visit calgarywildfc.com for information and season tickets.
