Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, the Northern Super League, will be kicking off this April, with Ottawa one of the six cities with the inaugural teams.
The nation’s capital will be home to the Ottawa Rapid FC, with key players including four-time Olympian and Canadian national team veteran Desiree Scott, Miranda Smith, and Liv Scott. The team will play a 25-game regular season, with five matches each against clubs located in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, with the championship match hosted in November.
In addition to the league, NSL clubs like the Rapids will have the opportunity to compete in international competitions like the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, with teams from the US’s NWSL, Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, and other North American leagues.
Ottawa Rapid will play 13 home games during the season, beginning with the season opener against AFC Toronto. The majority will be played on weekend afternoons to ensure a family-friendly schedule. Games will be televised on CBC and TSN. Fledgling sports teams often also hold special events and use methods like banner printing to help raise awareness of the league.
The inaugural season of Ottawa Rapid FC will begin on April 27 and run until October. All home games will take place at the Stadium at TD Place at Lansdowne Park.
