The Vancouver Rise and Calgary Wild started a new era of soccer in Canada in the first game of the Northern Super League, or simply, the NSL.
This was a long overdue Canadian professional women’s soccer league. It had been 863 days since Diana Matheson announced the league and 323 days since its name was announced. On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the NSL officially kicked off.
The site was Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium. This venue has hosted several high-profile sporting events since its opening in 1983. That includes multiple Grey Cups, the ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. On this cool and sunny April evening in 2025, (with the roof open!) it hosted another.
It was not just a big moment for Canadian sports but for women’s sports in Canada. Years ago, fans dreamed of this, but was it ever possible? Well, it is now.
First Half: Quinn makes history
The Rise and Wild were starting the game with caution early. Both teams had chances within the first 10 minutes but the shots were either whiffed on or blocked.
Calgary looked dangerous on the transitions. But Vancouver’s press was evident early, especially with Canadian international Quinn in the midfield.
Canadian forward Holly Ward was also a threat. It was she who won the penalty for Quinn. They made no mistake from the spot to score the first-ever goal in NSL history. Sure, a penalty being the league’s first-ever goal does seem underwhelming, but a goal is a goal. It was also very fitting that a prominent member of the Canadian women’s national team scored the first-ever goal for the NSL. Quinn is also arguably, the NSL’s biggest name.
Ward and Rise full-back Jasmyne Spencer both were using their speed to make life difficult for the Wild. They were taking advantage of the space given in the middle of the pitch by Calgary’s full-backs inverting. After Quinn scored, the Rise were buzzing and forcing errors. Quinn and Nicole Stanton looked formidable in the midfield.
There was a lot to like about the Rise in the first half. It is also worth mentioning that captain Shannon Woeller and Jessika Cowart were formidable later in the half for Vancouver.
For the Wild, they looked lost after Quinn scored and needed answers.
Second Half: Squandered chances and physicality
Vancouver was looking to keep the momentum going from the first half. Their attack continued to buzz and they were also forcing turnovers in the midfield.
Unfortunately, the passes from Lisa Pechersky, who made some great runs, were just a few seconds too late.
By the 60th minute, the Wild were starting to wake up. The Rise’s Jaylyn Right was struggling. The right-back was getting burned by Calgary’s Kahli Johnson.
Vancouver’s press didn’t let up, however. Ward and substitute Sara Lilja were creating chances from both sides. Unfortunately, no one could get on the end of their crosses and passes. That was mainly because no one was in the box to receive them. It was a shame because the transitions for the Rise looked quick and deadly.
There were some nervy moments from the Rise as the Wild had chances in the final ten minutes. The Wild did not have a single shot on target until a long-range shot in the 82nd minute which was caught easily by Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan.
The second half featured bone-crunching tackles and around three yellow cards. It was a physical half.
Regardless, the Rise won the first-ever NSL match. The first of many.
What was Said
I think it’s tough when you don’t have any idea what the opposition is going to throw at you,” said Wild head coach Lydia Bedford on her team’s loss. “Then you add to that 13,000 people in a stadium where, actually from a communication perspective, there’s not a tonne the players can hear you say. But on the whole, I think actually for the players, they rode those little bits of momentum while they were trying to work it out.”
“I was waiting for this game for a while now,” said Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec on playing in Canada. ” I’m happy I got the opportunity to play. It was a surreal experience playing on home soil. Not the result we wanted, but it was an amazing experience and to be a part of history.”
“It’s a pretty cool moment, not one I thought I’d have,” said Quinn on scoring the first-ever NSL goal. “I score goals few and far between, but I think it was just exciting for our team to get on the scoreboard. I think that was a bit of a relief for us. It was just such a team effort getting to that point and it was really exciting to celebrate as a team.”
“I don’t feel like a personal achievement at all, this was a team and this was the city of Vancouver,” said Rise head coach Anja Heiner-Moller on the historic night and victory. “It was the whole club. All the team’s messages and the whole day has been buzzing with people getting this ready. I feel like we really succeeded in getting people in and having the atmosphere we wanted. And from down on the field, it looked so beautiful, and we could hear them. It was just great to have the whole team in here and feel the whole crowd and the support and start with a win. That’s the best start you can have.”
Wrap-up: Let the NSL games begin
This was a night for Canadian soccer fans, players, media and executives to remember. Of course, many women and young girls will remember the game at BC Place for as long as they can remember.
The NSL is officially underway and it still feels surreal. This is a league that deserves attention and deserves to succeed. Perhaps five, 10, 20, or even 50 years down the line, Canadian soccer fans will fondly talk about the first-ever NSL game at home, work, the pub or wherever.
This is just the start. There is still a long way to go. But step by step, the eight teams across Canada can help grow soccer, especially for the women even further.
A new era has begun.
