The Case for a Women’s Canadian Premier League: Why It’s Time for Change
For the first time in history, Canada has launched its own top-tier professional soccer league: the Canadian Premier League. This milestone marks a new era for the nation’s men’s game, with the aim to develop local talent and build a more competitive Men’s National Team. But as Canadian soccer looks to the future, it’s crucial that similar progress is made for women’s soccer. Establishing a professional women’s league is not just overdue — it’s a logical next step in supporting Canada’s position on the global football stage.
The State of Women’s Soccer in Canada: A Remarkable Track Record
Canada’s track record in women’s soccer stands in stark contrast to its late and uneven development in the men’s game. Unlike countries with long-standing soccer cultures, Canadian women found themselves on a relatively level playing field as the women’s game only began receiving widespread attention in the 1970s. The global landscape for women was slow to develop — the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup wasn’t held until 1991, decades after the first men’s tournament.
Professional leagues for women took time to emerge worldwide. For instance:
– England’s FA Women’s Super League (WSL) began only in 2010.
– In France, players only turned fully professional in 2009, despite an established league since the 1970s.
– The United States’ National Women’s Soccer League launched in 2012.
Canada managed to leverage its economic strength and resources to build an elite Women’s National Team, despite lacking its own professional club structure. The women’s side has delivered outstanding results:
– Fourth place at the 2003 World Cup.
– Consecutive Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016.
– Hosting a successful Women’s World Cup in 2015, highlighted by a quarter-final run.
– Producing world-class talent such as Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Jessie Fleming.
These achievements have made women’s soccer a point of national pride — but maintaining this competitive edge requires further domestic investment and infrastructure.
The Professional Gap: Lack of Women’s Soccer Clubs in Canada
Despite Canada’s international success, there remains a glaring absence of professional women’s clubs on home soil. Aspiring players like Christine Sinclair and Kadeisha Buchanan have had to build their careers outside Canada, most commonly in the United States or Europe. Up-and-coming talents such as Jessie Fleming and Deanne Rose have followed the NCAA college path before turning professional — a common route for Canadian women, but one that is less prevalent in established football nations which have full-fledged youth academies.
A recent scan of the Women’s National Team roster highlights the issue: for the April 2019 friendlies, only two squad members, Jayde Riviere and Jordyn Huitema, were playing for Canadian teams at the youth level (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite). Once young players turn 18, their choices within Canada shrink significantly, often leaving only semi-professional teams such as:
- Vancouver Whitecaps Women (playing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League — a secondary tier below the U.S. NWSL)
- Calgary Foothills WFC (participating in United Women’s Soccer League)
- League 1 Ontario sides, such as FC London
However, even these teams cannot offer full-time professional contracts. Ambitious players frequently depart for opportunities abroad when available, as seen with Jade Kovacevic’s move to Italy’s Serie A.
Why a Domestic League Matters for Growing the Game
A homegrown professional league provides a vital platform for developing and retaining local talent. The introduction of the men’s Canadian Premier League was driven by the desire to keep promising players within Canada, fostering growth, visibility, and pathways that align with the Men’s National Team’s ambitions. The same rationale, if not stronger, applies on the women’s side.
Key reasons for launching a Women’s Canadian Premier League include:
- Giving girls and young women professional targets and visible role models within Canada.
- Reducing reliance on foreign leagues and college scholarships abroad as the only stepping stones to a pro career.
- Encouraging key players to stay, raise the standard of the domestic game, and inspire the next generation locally.
- Aligning Canada with global best practices, as most developed nations now support a domestic women’s league.
- Maximizing the legacy of Canada’s achievements in international women’s soccer.
While men’s professional clubs (Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps) offer domestic opportunities, women currently have no equivalent. Talented female players are forced either to leave or to settle for semi-professional or amateur play — a shortfall that stifles the game’s growth at both grassroots and elite levels.
Looking Forward: Prioritizing Women’s Soccer for Canadian Success
The launch of the Canadian Premier League signals a new commitment to soccer in Canada. As the spotlight shines on the men’s game, it’s vital that this energy and investment also benefit women’s soccer — the true international standard-bearer for Canadian soccer in recent years.
Establishing a professional women’s league isn’t just about fairness; it’s about fostering continued international success, cultivating homegrown stars, and providing young players with dreams rooted in their own communities.
The next transformative step for Canadian soccer should be clear: create a dedicated professional women’s league, develop talent nationally, keep future stars playing — and winning — in red and white for years to come.
Conclusion: Is Now the Time for a Women’s Canadian Premier League?
Canada has the history, the talent, and the resources to support a thriving women’s professional soccer league. Building this infrastructure is not only a tribute to past and present stars but the surest way to ensure future generations can reach their potential without having to leave home.
The question for Canadian soccer is not whether the country deserves a Women’s Premier League — but how soon it can become a reality.
