Another professional soccer club is being brought to the city by the Calgary Wild Football Club (FC), adding an all-women’s team to the mix on Calgary’s pitch.

On May 30, the Northern Super League (NSL), in collaboration with Cenovus, unveiled the team name and crest at McMahon Stadium just two days after the league was announced. The NSL, formerly Project 8, will see teams from Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary. This will mark Canada’s first all-women’s professional soccer league and will kick off in the spring of 2025.

Until the development of Project 8, Canada was the only FIFA-ranked country that didn’t have a professional soccer league.

The team’s mascot will be an owl, which is featured prominently on the team’s crest. The jagged W is meant to represent the mountains and rivers that surround Calgary. The five points represent the five First Nations of Treaty 7, as well as being a nod to the Famous 5, who in 1929 brought forth legislation to legally recognize women as “persons” under British common law.

The team’s tagline, “she shoots, she soars,” is meant to reflect the league’s movement to bring the opportunity of professional soccer to women in Calgary and the rest of Canada.

The NSL specifically did not want to use the terminology of “women’s soccer” when naming the professional soccer league.

“It’s all tied into what I talked about, just that sense of inclusion. So it was deliberate in that regard, to make it more inclusive and make sure that young women know they’re on par with their brothers,” said Deanna Zumwalt, Board Chair of YYCWFC.

FIFA pro turf being arranged for McMahon Stadium

McMahon Stadium not only hosted the event today but will also serve as the Wild FC’s future home.

“We’ve been working with McMahon Stadium to put in a FIFA pro turf for the season next year,” said Zumwalt.

Previously the only opportunity for women soccer players in Calgary to reach the professional league was progressing through the Calgary Foothills team in the United Women’s Soccer League. The UWS will be providing support for the development of this new professional club.

Calgary Foothills saw great success in the league as three-time conference champions and two-time national silver medalists, showing that Calgary has a large pool of talent.

“I think the message now changes, and it’s very clear for those players, the time is now to come home,” said Lee Tucker, UWS Coach for Foothills FC.

The opportunity creates local opportunities for players like Sarah Kinzner who currently plays for the Calgary Foothills FC. Kinzner started playing soccer when she was five years old and has since gone on to represent Canada in multiple tournaments including two FIFA youth tournaments.

Kinzner spoke about the challenges of aspiring to play professionally when she was younger. She was unsure of how to reach her goal because of the lack of local opportunity. She also addressed the accessibility issues of travelling to a different country to pursue a soccer career.

“The launch of the Northern Super League will create the opportunity for Canadian women to live out their dreams and compete at the top level in front of their friends and family, right here in Canada,” said Kinzner.

The coming months will have additional roster announcements. To stay on top of Calgary Wild FC news, you can visit the club’s webpage.