The Northern Super League (NSL; French: Super Ligue du Nord—SLN) is a planned Division I professional women's soccer league in Canada. The league is owned and operated by Project 8 Sports, Inc., an entity co-founded by former Canada women's national soccer team player Diana Matheson, who also serves as its chief executive officer.[1] The league consists of six teams and is scheduled to begin play in April 2025.
 | |
| Organizing body | Project 8 Sports, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Founded | December 6, 2022 |
| First season | 2025 (planned) |
| Country | Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 (proposed) |
| Sponsor(s) | |
| Website | www |
History edit
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Upon her retirement from professional soccer in July 2021, Matheson began advocating for both a national domestic women's league and National Women's Soccer League team in Canada.[2] Her early plans specified a six-month professional league with player leadership, and cited her experience with the Ottawa Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps of the defunct USL W-League as examples of what Canada lacked in player development opportunities.[3] Matheson entered Queen's University at Kingston to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree in August 2021,[2] and enrolled in the UEFA Executive Master for International Players program toward sports administration.[4]
In December 2021, Matheson presented a plan for women's soccer in Canada to the Canadian Soccer Association, but discussions did not progress. While attending Queen's, Matheson co-founded Project 8 Sports, Inc., in June 2022 with master's classmate Thomas Gilbert and began planning a professional domestic women's soccer league. Matheson formally announced the league – known provisionally as Project 8 – on December 5, 2022, on The National alongside former national-team teammate Christine Sinclair, who advised the group. The announcement included the league's first two teams in the Whitecaps and Calgary Foothills WFC, and first two sponsors in CIBC and Air Canada. She also announced talks with Toronto FC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and CF Montreal, both of Major League Soccer, and a target of May 2024 for sanctioning from Canada Soccer.[4] Matheson named Dome Productions as the league's initial broadcast production partner.[5]
In January 2023, Matheson noted that talks had also included independent and foreign ownership groups, and announced franchise fees of $1 million with an expectation of owners investing $10 million total over the first five seasons,[6] with entry including equity in the league itself.[7] She also detailed limits on foreign players to seven per team, and suggested that the new league would not deal with Canada Soccer Business, the entity that owns broadcast rights to the Canadian Premier League men's soccer competition.[6]
On April 26, 2023, Project 8 announced the league's third team, AFC Toronto City, with an independent ownership group composed of people on the board of North Toronto Soccer Club (NTSC) competing in League1 Ontario, though the Project 8 team would not be formally affiliated with the NTSC organization. The initial announcement did not include participation from Toronto FC or MLSE.[8] In May, Project 8 was recognized as a "league in membership" by the Canadian Soccer Association.[9]
On May 28, 2024, the official logo and name for the league were revealed as the Northern Super League, along with the announcement that teams from both Montreal and Ottawa would also join the league for the 2025 inaugural season.[10][11] On May 30, the name and logo of Calgary Wild FC were officially unveiled.[12][13]
Teams edit
On April 4, 2024, the league confirmed that six clubs had submitted applications to the CSA to get professional status.[14]
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | Ownership | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Vancouver | TBA
|
2001 |
2025
|
Vancouver Whitecaps FC | [1] | |
| Calgary Wild FC | Calgary | 35,400
|
1972 |
2025
|
Calgary Foothills FC | [13] | |
| AFC Toronto | Toronto | TBA
|
2023 |
2025
|
|
[8] | |
| TBA | Halifax | TBA
|
2024
|
2025
|
Courtney Sherlock (CEO)
|
[15] | |
| TBA | Montreal | Various (TBA)
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
[16] | |
| TBA | Ottawa | TBA
|
2024
|
2025
|
TBA
|
[10] | |
Location map edit
Announced clubReferences edit
- ^ a b Dichter, Myles (December 5, 2022). "Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson reveal pro Canadian women's soccer league set for kickoff in 2025". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Canadian Diana Matheson retires, looks forward to post-soccer challenges". SportsNet. The Canadian Press. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ Yang, Steph (July 8, 2021). "Diana Matheson has big plans for Canadian soccer after announcing the end to her playing career". The Athletic. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b Molinaro, John (December 7, 2022). "Matheson again at the forefront in big moment for Canadian women's soccer". SportsNet. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ Matheson, Diana (December 7, 2022). "Diana Matheson on the revenue, investment and stadium prospects for new Canadian women's league" (Interview). Interviewed by Joshua Kloke and Steph Yang. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Matheson says support growing for proposed Canadian women's soccer league". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. January 13, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (July 17, 2023). "Matheson hopes World Cup further raises profile of women's game, boosts new Canadian league". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b Davidson, Neil (April 26, 2023). "Canadian women's pro soccer league signs on AFC Toronto City". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Historic Day for Canadian soccer as Charmaine Crooks elected President and Project 8 approved as League in Membership". Canada Soccer. May 6, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Jacques, John (May 28, 2024). "Meet The Northern Super League". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Dunlop, Brendan (May 28, 2024). "Project 8 unveils Northern Super League, Montréal & Ottawa round out 6 founding NSL clubs". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Ellis, Brendon (May 30, 2024). "Calgary Wild FC unveiled as city's first professional women's soccer club". CTV News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Jacques, John (May 30, 2024). "Everything We Know About All Six NSL Launch Teams". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Project 8 Hits Major Milestone as Six Clubs Submit for Canada Soccer Membership | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecaps FC. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ "Atlantic Women's Football Club". Atlantic Women’s Football Club. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Jacques, John (May 28, 2024). "Women's Pro Soccer To Plant Flag In Montreal". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2024.