The Northern Super League’s first season is wrapping up. There was a lot of excitement surrounding it, but attracting players hasn’t been simple when competing with well-established leagues in Europe and the U.S.

Toronto

Canada's Northern Super League, the country's first professional women's soccer league, has completed its debut season. The league, which launched with six teams in major cities, has provided new opportunities for Canadian players and inspired young fans nationwide. Each team played 25 regular season games, with the top four advancing to playoffs and a national championship held in Toronto.

Despite strong community support and sponsorships, including major partners such as Lotto Quebec, the league faces challenges related to financial sustainability and competition from established leagues in Europe and the United States. Efforts to boost attendance included free and discounted tickets, and while the league's future growth is uncertain, players and organizers remain optimistic about its long-term impact on women's sports in Canada.

Canada’s first pro women’s soccer league faces test beyond season

Canada's newest women's professional soccer league wraps up its inaugural season this fall. It's debut marked a turning point in women's soccer in Canada, drawing some of the best talent from coast to coast. The Northern Super League launched in April and amid the buzz of the WNBA and the PWHL, there was a lot of hype. And the expectations were sort of, this is what we hope to get and this is what we hope to deliver and this is what we hope to achieve. And so a lot of it was going on hope. First of all, people really love having a women's soccer league here. We didn't have that when we grew up. So I guess for younger girls right now to have that, it's really amazing. I'm just glad to support it. Yes, yes, yes. How bad do you want to play soccer? I really don't. We want to be like professional soccer players. The NSL features six original teams, Toronto, Halifax, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and the Montreal Roses. They each play 25 regular season games. Then the top four teams head to the playoffs. Then there's the national championships, November 15th in Toronto. This league is fantastic. Playing in Canada is really special. And this league, showing the little girls that you're able to play professional in your home country is so special. Every game feels so rewarding coming out and seeing all the fans and the girls and even the little boys, everyone just supporting women's soccer. It's been something I've been very grateful to be a part of. The Roses play right here at the Stade Boréal in Laval. We wanted to have 34,000 people in the stands and that would be a good number financially and just, you know, experience wise. And we're at 37. So we're very happy with that. Okay. So inaugural season excitement aside, these teams are spread across the country. Each player makes a minimum of $50,000. There are all kinds of expenses and there's an expansion in the works. So is this sustainable? The idea of a 16 league right now is really difficult to fathom as being successful. Even the professional women's hockey league, which started with six, started with six, but they started at the highest level of the sport. Attracting players to the league hasn't been simple. There are already elite, well-established women's leagues in Europe and the U.S. that have already locked in top talent. And so the ability to expand then is going to be extremely constrained. You still have to travel to Halifax. You still have to travel to Toronto. And that's expensive. In Halifax, fans were offered free tickets to the Tides game September 6th. The Roses also offered ticket discounts to bring in more fans. Once you get your feet in the stadium, you won't be disappointed. It's an amazing experience and a very competitive team on the pitch. So people who say this league is not sustainable, you say, what's your answer to that? Well, let's talk back in 10 years. Yeah, I'll prove you wrong. Sponsorships have played a big role in the Roses' inaugural season. Lotto Quebec recently signed on, joining other big names in beer and insurance. The partners are really, they want to be part of this. And just think about Boreal's naming of the stadium. It's, you know, very symbolic. It's the first professional women's sports venue in Canada. It means a lot. This is our first year and we're the ones here, but this league's going to be here for a long time. And there's going to be women after us that are even stronger. Beyond the business of the league, the team say the young fans in the stands and the community support are encouraging and shows the potential for the game to grow in Canada. I tell people it's something they need to know about because it's something exciting. It's something that, you know, some people may come, some younger people, older people. And when they look at the product that's on the field, it's about being resilient. It's about fighting. It's about women being strong and powerful and athletic. Go, Roses!

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