(This story is sponsored by Vancouver Rise FC) Vancouver has been the home to many historic moments in women’s soccer over the years. The 2012 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final, where Team Canada clinched their spot for London. The 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and Japan. And most recently, the farewell match for Burnaby native and Canadian legend Christine Sinclair in late 2023. But for all its big moments, a lack of investment and infrastructure has kept the city from housing its own fully professional women’s soccer team. That all changes next Wednesday, April 16, when Vancouver makes history once again. On that day, Vancouver’s first-ever women’s professional soccer team, Vancouver Rise FC, will take on Calgary Wild FC in the first match of the newly formed Northern Super League (NSL). Breaking New Ground in Vancouver Founded by former Canadian national team star Diana Matheson, the NSL kicks off this year after years of planning since 2022. Matheson, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, has long advocated for a domestic league to keep Canadian talent home. Now, her vision will be unveiled as the NSL strives to provide new opportunities for both fans and players to engage with the game a little closer to home. And there is no better way to start it than at Vancouver’s BC Place. But April 16 is more than just a home opener—it’s the dawn of a new era in Canadian soccer. Previously, B.C.’s most promising female players had to look abroad for professional opportunities, whether in the U.S. or Europe. Now, these young prospects can attend Rise FC games and see a path to success in their own backyard. They can join the team’s academy, train under top-tier coaches, and dream of one day wearing a jersey with their own name on it. It’s an avenue that has never truly existed before for these players, but now it looks to become the norm in Canadian soccer, and in Vancouver with Rise FC. Coming Full Circle Among the first clubs to have joined the league when it was nothing more than a dream, Rise FC looks to change the game for soccer in the city. The team has already made waves by signing current and former Canadian national team stars Shannon Woeller, Samantha Chang, and Olympic medalist Quinn. Quinn joins as the star signing for the side, having competed at multiple World Cups and won multiple Olympic medals. But the true charm of the team isn’t just in its world-class talent. Rather, it’s in the opportunities the team is offering for players to stay close to home—or in the case of these Canadian players, coming back home. Quinn, Woeller, and Chang all had to start their pro careers outside of Canada, going as far as Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland to forge their path. Now, Rise FC have given them the opportunity to come back to their native country and compete in front of their family and friends. For Woeller, the club’s first-ever signing and a Vancouver native, she gets to play in her hometown for the first time since 2012, when she played for the amateur Vancouver Whitecaps FC women’s side. Back then, she left Vancouver as a young 22-year-old rookie looking to break into the world of women’s soccer; now, Woeller gets to come back to Vancouver as an accomplished veteran ushering her team into a new chapter for Canadian soccer. A Team That Lifts All Boats But Rise FC is not just for the players—it’s for the community. Long-standing women’s supporters groups like the Vancouver Southsisters finally have a professional women’s team to support and rally behind. Coaches like Katie Collar, one of the best in the province, now have a professional platform to build off of after dedicating their lives to growing the sport. From medical staff to office staff and more, the club is creating opportunities for women and femmes to come together and celebrate their love for the beautiful game. It’s how Rise FC and the NSL are aligning with the broader cultural shift in women’s sport in North America. With PWHL’s meteoric rise and the WNBA’s soaring popularity, the NSL and Rise FC are joining the trend of success by blazing a new trail for women’s soccer in Canada. Of course there will be challenges ahead, but these players and staff have never backed down from adversity. No matter the hurdles and obstacles, they will continue to fight for their dreams. That’s why when the whistle blows on April 16, it won’t just start a match—it’ll ignite a movement. For more information on Vancouver Rise FC, including tickets to games, go here.