An introduction to the Northern Super League (NSL)
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Women’s soccer is growing rapidly, and there are many notable clubs and players involved in the sport. In Europe, some of the best teams include FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
The United States also has their own successful domestic league called the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with 14 teams and plans to expand to 16 franchises by 2026.
As Canada has had a very successful women’s national team over the years and increasing popularity in the sport, it was natural that Canada would eventually have their own domestic women’s soccer league, which ultimately came in the form of the Northern Super League (NSL).
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How did the Northern Super League begin?
The Northern Super League, or NSL for short, was started by former Canadian women’s soccer player Diana Matheson. As the co-founder and CEO of Project 8, Matheson helped kickstart the NSL and filled a “void” in the country and Canadian sports.
The first-ever Northern Super League game was played on April 16, 2025, between Vancouver Rise FC and Calgary Wild FC at BC Place in Vancouver, B.C. The match ended in a 1-0 win for Vancouver Rise FC with Canadian women’s national team player Quinn netting a penalty in the 22nd minute, becoming the first goalscorer in NSL history.
How many teams are in the Northern Super League?
There are six teams in the Northern Super League:
- AFC Toronto
- Calgary Wild FC
- Halifax Tides FC
- Montréal Roses FC
- Ottawa Rapid FC
- Vancouver Rise FC
The current standings for the NSL has AFC Toronto on top with 19 points through 10 matches played. Montréal Roses FC is close behind AFC Toronto in second place with 18 points, followed by Ottawa Rapid FC on 14 points, Vancouver Rise FC on 12 points, Calgary Wild FC on 11 points, and Halifax Tides FC on seven points. In soccer, you get three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.
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Who are some players you should know in the Northern Super League?
The current top goalscorer in the NSL is Delaney Pridham from Ottawa Rapid FC. The striker has nine goals, 16 shots on target and 28 total shots through nine games for the Rapid and leads the NSL in all three categories. Melanie Forbes, Pridham’s teammate on Ottawa Rapid FC, also leads the NSL with five assists.
Shannon Woeller is one of the most prolific passers in the NSL, leading the league with 722 total passes and also taking 809 touches, underscoring the crucial role she plays as a centre-back for the Vancouver Rise FC.
Grace Stordy plays as a right-back for the Calgary Wild FC and currently leads the NSL in total tackles with 52. This stat shows Stordy’s importance in Calgary’s defence and how she leads the backline for her team.
There are also some notable individuals in the NSL such as Canadian national team players Quinn and Desiree Scott, both midfielders for Vancouver Rise FC and Ottawa Rapid FC, respectively. New Zealand centre-back Meikayla Moore also plays in the NSL for Calgary Wild FC. Moore scored the first goal in Calgary Wild FC history in their 4-1 win over Halifax Tides FC on April 26, 2025.
What is the schedule for the Northern Super League?
The schedule for the NSL was revealed before play began in April 2025, with each team playing 25 regular season games. The regular season runs from April until the final match on Oct. 18, 2025 between AFC Toronto and Montréal Roses FC at the York Lions Stadium.
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the standings will play each other in a two-match semifinal to determine who moves on to the championship match on Nov. 15, 2025.
The Northern Super League brings some of the best women’s soccer players to cities all across Canada. So be sure to follow all the action over the course of the season to see who is crowned the inaugural NSL champion.