'Exactly where we wanted to be': Canada hails NSL after inaugural season's glittering finish | Sophie Downey

Canada's inaugural season of the Northern Super League (NSL) has ended with a triumphant flourish, as Vancouver Rise claimed the championship title in front of 12,429 spectators at BMO Field in Toronto. The victory marked a significant milestone for professional women's football in Canada, and Christine Sinclair, the all-time international top scorer, hailed it as a "glittering finish" to a remarkable campaign.

The match itself was a testament to the hard work and perseverance of both teams, with Rise ultimately emerging victorious after a thrilling 2-1 win against AFC Toronto. Anja Heiner-Møller's side had fought back from a deficit in the first half to take the lead through Kaylee Hunter, only for Toronto to level the score before Holly Ward scored the winning goal.

The NSL has been hailed as a groundbreaking success, with ticket sales exceeding 275,000 and generating $30 million in revenue. The league's impact extends beyond the pitch, too, with more than three million people tuning in to watch matches on traditional broadcast channels and digital platforms. Partnerships have also been established with 16 organizations, with over 50 partners involved with the clubs.

The league's focus on providing a pathway for young Canadians to play professional football has paid off, with seven players receiving senior international call-ups during the inaugural season. The minimum wage for players is set at $50,000, making it the highest in the world for a women's league, while a benefits package provides additional support.

The success of the NSL is attributed to its founders' vision and determination. Diana Matheson, a former Canada international, steered the league from scratch, with Christine Sinclair co-owning Rise. Matheson stated that while expectations had been high, the team had met them in year one, saying "we're exactly where we wanted to be."

The NSL's impact extends beyond Canadian borders, with plans to expand to seven teams in 2027 and secure representation in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. The league has already put Canada on the map, with AFC Toronto set to compete in December's World Sevens Football.

As Rise celebrated their championship win, captain Samantha Chang reflected on the milestone, saying it felt "full circle" for her team after hitting several milestones throughout the season. The future looks bright for the NSL, as Canada continues to establish itself as a major force in women's football.

omg what's next? they're gonna have to find a way to keep up with the other leagues now that canada's got this super league going on ... and 50k is the min wage for players, thats still crazy low imo i feel bad for all the lower-paid women playing in other leagues around the world... also i'm kinda surprised they're not expanding faster, 7 teams by 2027 is slow compared to how fast some other leagues are growing

lol what's up with all these teams just springing out of nowhere lol 50k min wage for players is crazy though, i mean canada's got some serious love for soccer and 12k+ fans at one match? that's insane anyway gotta say as a neutral observer the nsl seems like it's off to a solid start but can they keep up the momentum?

idk about this nsL thing... i mean, its kinda cool that canadian women's soccer is getting all this attention but 275k ticket sales seems like way too low for something that's literally just started . like, shouldn't they be breaking records or somethin'? also, $50k minimum wage for players sounds nice but isn't that still pretty low compared to men's leagues? and what about the concacaf w champions cup? are they gonna actually make it out of the group stage

can't believe they're actually celebrating this like it's some kind of achievement that they managed not to get humiliated on purpose ... Vancouver Rise won by 1 goal and still got 12k fans showing up... 275k ticket sales is pretty meh considering the prices are gonna skyrocket now. and wow, $30 million in revenue? that's just a drop in the bucket compared to how much money these teams would make if they actually had investors who cared about the sport. it's all about the benjamins honey

I gotta say, this is amazing! 12,429 people at BMO Field, that's crazy! And to think it was all about Vancouver Rise winning that championship... what an incredible achievement for Christine Sinclair and Anja Heiner-Møller. The way the league has taken off, with so many fans tuning in and partnerships galore... it's just awesome. And did you see that they're expanding to 7 teams next year? Canada is definitely stepping up its women's football game!

I gotta say, the NSL is lookin' ! It's awesome to see all that growth and success, especially with those record-breaking ticket sales . And $30 million in revenue? That's some serious dough! I'm stoked to hear about the pathway for young Canadians to play pro football too - it's a great way to develop talent from within .

The fact that they're expandin' to 7 teams by 2027 is also super exciting . And gettin' representation in the Concacaf W Champions Cup? That's a major step forward! The league's impact goes beyond just the pitch, too - it's showin' the world what Canadian women's football can do .

I'm glad to see all these partnerships and organizations involved, too. It's clear that this league is about more than just the game itself - it's about buildin' a community and support system for players . And with Christine Sinclair at the helm, you know they're gonna keep pushin' boundaries !

omg i'm so hyped for the Vancouver Rise they totally deserved that championship win! but you know what's even more amazing? how far women's football has come since my grandma used to play pickup games with her friends back in the 80s lol it was such a rough time for female athletes, but now we're living our best lives and i'm so glad christine sinclair is leading the charge - she's like a total legend that glittering finish to the season tho? pure magic can't wait to see what the future holds for the NSL!

omg I'm so thrilled for these talented ladies!!! they've worked so hard and it really shows on the pitch! I love that the minimum wage is $50k, it's about time more women are being paid fairly for their sport and it's awesome to see the league having such a positive impact off the pitch too 275k ticket sales? that's crazy! can't wait to see what the future holds for this amazing league

idk why ppl are hyped about this Northern Super League thingy canada's got a women's league and its not like its a big deal or anything... people r making a big fuss over it but its just football, fam the fact that vancouver rise won doesn't mean its gonna change the world or anything. they played some decent matches i guess, but its all just part of the game now and 275k ticket sales? thats not even that impressive... ppl got their money back in no time

omg 12k ppl at BMO Field is insane!!! Vancouver Rise totally deserved that win, their teamwork was on point and I love how Christine Sinclair is still slaying the game even after all these years her goalscoring skills are still unmatched can't wait for the NSL to expand next year and see more teams compete! also a huge shoutout to Diana Matheson for making this league happen, she's literally the MVP

I'm so stoked about the Northern Super League in Canada! It's amazing to see how far they've come, especially with that championship win by Vancouver Rise . The fact that it was their first season is even more impressive - I mean, they totally killed it ! And Christine Sinclair being the top scorer? Iconic .

But what really gets me excited is the impact this league has had beyond just football. With over 3 million people watching matches and $30 million in revenue, that's huge for women's sports in Canada . And with partnerships with 16 organizations, it's clear they're not just focusing on the pitch, but also on creating opportunities for young players and supporting their communities .

I'm also loving the fact that they're investing so much in their players - $50,000 minimum wage is insane for a women's league . And with plans to expand to seven teams by 2027, I'm sure we'll see even more success and growth in the future . Bring on the World Sevens Football in December!