Calgary’s professional women’s soccer club, Wild FC, announced the signing of a pair of champion hometown players ahead of the team’s first season in 2025.

Calgarians Sarah Keilty-Dilling and Grace Stordy both played for Calgary Foothills before joining NCAA college teams in the United States.

Keilty-Dilling played Division 1 for the University of Texas, for FC Tucson and for Calgary Foothills in the UWS League, garnering multiple MVP awards while at those clubs.

Stordy led Calgary Foothills to a championship in 2016 and was the captain of the University of Memphis Tigers where she earned ACC Rookie-of-the-Year honours during the 2020–21 season.

The pair will be joining the Wild FC as a goaltender and as a right fullback.

“Sarah and Grace exemplify the strong soccer programming and community that already exists in Calgary, and that we hope to amplify even more by showcasing both of these local talents and other international powerhouses that will make up the Calgary Wild FC’s inaugural roster,” said Alix Bruch, Sporting Director for Calgary Wild FC.

“Both of these inspirational women have realized a childhood dream of playing professional soccer for a hometown team that was once unthinkable. As two key members of this squad, they will surely inspire other young Calgarians to chase similar dreams that are now more realistic with a complete pathway to chase.”

The Wild FC is part of the Northern Super League, Canada’s first domestic professional women’s soccer league.

They are set to play their first games in April of 2025.

Dreams come true playing for Wild FC

Keilty-Dilling called her signing to Wild FC a childhood dream come true.

“It’s like childhood dream realized, which is crazy, because like, how do you actually put that into words? The emotions and the feelings that it gives you?” She said.

“For me as a little girl, growing up my dream looked a lot different, because playing professionally in Canada, it wasn’t a reality. It wasn’t possible. To have that dream now being an actual tangible thing that young girls in Calgary can really dream of, and actually exists is so special and so amazing.”

She said that having a professional soccer team in Canada would open a lot of doors for players who would otherwise have to travel to the United States, and have to deal with the difficulties that come with international play.

“The [National Women’s Soccer League] is a really hard league to get into, partly because of their roles with international players and how many they can bring on. So, to have the opportunity to potentially be able to play in your home country after finishing your collegiate career, it’s massive,” Keilty-Dilling said.

“It’s very motivating for a lot of young women. It just gives them the opportunity to really realize the dream of playing professionally at home, which is, I mean, that’s all everyone ever wants.”

That sentiment was echoed by Stordy, who said that her experience playing in the United States was a bittersweet one.

“I enjoyed it so much. But, you know, I’ve said multiple times here these past couple weeks there’s no place like home. So being able to come home and play pro instead of being overseas… is bittersweet,” she said.

She said that one of her goals in joining Wild FC was to help younger female players know that there is now a path to professional soccer in Calgary.

“I know Sarah was saying dreams come true, and I don’t think there’s better words for it. Being able to lace up those cleats and play professionally in Calgary is just absolutely incredible,” Stordy said.

The team recently signed former Afghan Women’s National Team Captain Farkhunda Muhtaj in October, as the first member of the team, and three-time Olympic footballer from New Zealand Meikayla Moore, at the beginning of November.