Christine Sinclair, arguably the greatest women’s soccer player of all time is coming home.
Home is where the heart is and since her storied playing career is ending soon, she has decided to follow her heart. On Monday morning, it was announced that Sinclair would join the newest Northern Super League club as part of their ownership group.
This comes after over a month of speculation after the Vancouver Rise official Twitter account Tweeted this photo of Sinclair.
“Growing up in Burnaby, I would have never imagined becoming an owner of a professional women’s soccer club in my hometown,” said Sinclair in the official press release. “I want every little girl in British Columbia and Canada to be inspired to play or coach or manage – see the opportunity for women in sport. I’m so excited to be a part of this movement, and to be able to share my passion to help this club grow.”
Sinclair will be part of the ownership group led by Greg Kerfoot.
“There are few names in the history of Canadian sport, and the history of soccer, as big as Christine Sinclair,” said Vancouver Rise sporting director Stephanie Labbe and Sinclair’s former teammate with Canada. She has made an unmatched impact on the sporting landscape in Canada, inspiring millions of people across the country. We are thrilled that she has taken an ownership role with our club to make an equally large impact on the future of the game. We have won gold together and now we are both excited to take this next journey together in Canada with Vancouver Rise FC.”
Sinclair will play out the remainder of the season with the Portland Thorns of the NWSL. However, she will play one final match at BC Place. On October 15, she and the Thorns will face the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite Academy as part of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage.
“I cannot wait to come back to Vancouver. When I played my last international game at BC Place [last year], I thought that was it,” said Sinclair in a media conference on Monday morning per Felipe Vallejo of Northern Tribune and AFTN. ” So to be able to, in my last couple weeks as a professional player, be able to bring the Thorns to the organization that I’ve called home… it’s kind of a full-circle moment. “I’m not going to take it easy on the academy players. For the Thorns, it’s a game we have to win to advance to the next round. Sorry!”
What’s next for Vancouver Rise
This is the first of many announcements for the club. Labbe and club president Sinead King have hinted that more announcements are imminent.
It’s an exciting team for women’s soccer in Canada and Vancouver. It is even more exciting Sinclair will be part of it.
