A new professional women’s soccer team has been launched in the nation’s capital, called Ottawa Rapids FC.
The team, which will play in the Northern Super League when it launches next April, unveiled its name and sky-blue logo at an event at TD Place on Thursday evening.
“We are committed to providing a path for Ottawa players to become professional players from day one,” Ottawa CEO Tom Gilbert said before the team branding was unveiled in a video.
Then a group of schoolgirls wearing Ottawa Rapids FC caps and T-shirts ran onto the field.
“There was a time when this was something novel or unusual,” Gilbert said of women’s sports. “We have to keep pushing for that change.”
Marisa Idone, 14, watched the launch.
“After seeing other women’s leagues starting up all over the world, I think it’s really cool that we’re starting our own league in Canada,” she said.
Teams from Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary will also compete in the league, which will feature a 25-game regular season followed by playoffs and a national championship in the fall of 2025.
All teams operate under salary caps and minimum salaries consistent with established leagues around the world.
The word “women’s” was intentionally left out of the league’s name, signifying its intention to stand on equal footing with other professional sports leagues.
“It’s been a long road for women’s professional soccer in Canada,” former Canadian national team midfielder Amy Walsh said in remarks before the official announcement.
