Canadian Women’s Soccer League Kicks Off with ‍Historic Goals, ⁤living Wages

OTTAWA, Ontario ‍– The inaugural season of the⁤ Northern Super League (NSL), canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, ⁤began with milestone moments both on and off the field.

Scott⁤ Scores First Professional Goal in Ottawa victory

Desiree Scott,a 37-year-old veteran of ‍the Canadian national team,marked a significant personal achievement during‍ Ottawa Rapid ⁤FC’s debut match against AFC Toronto on Sunday. Scott, known as “The⁤ Destroyer” for‍ her defensive prowess ⁢over 185 national team appearances, scored her first professional goal, pushing Ottawa too a 2-0 lead. Ottawa Rapid FC won the game 2-1.

⁤ “It was not an easy game, ⁣but being able to do something and experiencing the beginning of ⁢women’s football here… I am simply proud to be part of it,” scott said after the game, played before ⁣nearly 7,000 fans.

Vancouver Rise, Calgary Wild FC Make History

The league’s opening weekend also saw Quinn, who came‍ out as non-binary in 2020, score the first-ever goal in NSL history during the ⁤match between Vancouver Rise and Calgary Wild FC. The game ⁣in Vancouver drew twice as many fans as the ottawa game.

NSL Sets Standard with Minimum Wage

The creation of the NSL fulfills a long-held⁣ ambition of Canadian soccer players. Despite the national team’s⁤ success, including an Olympic gold medal⁢ in Tokyo in 2021, Canada was one of only two participants in the 2023 World Cup‍ without it’s own professional league.

Diana Matheson, a co-founder of the NSL, and Christine Sinclair, the face of⁣ Canadian women’s soccer and co-owner ⁢of Vancouver Rise FC, have been instrumental in bringing the league to fruition. The league⁣ consists of six teams in its first season.

The NSL has set a minimum player salary of $50,000 CAD. League officials highlight this figure as exceeding those of women’s leagues in‍ Spain ($25,000), Italy (almost $40,000), and even the‍ established national Women’s⁢ Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. Germany does ⁣not‍ have a minimum wage set by the DFB.

Broadcast and International Presence

The NSL has secured television coverage, and games are available for viewing on the league’s website.⁤ The Montreal Roses also feature German player Lara Schenk.