Soccer is always evolving, but sometimes it changes so subtly that few notice in the moment. On Wednesday night, it was clear; the women's game had shifted as Vancouver Rise FC defeated Calgary Wild FC 1–0 to begin the Northern Super League.
Washed in Vancouver’s spring sun, Canadian soccer entered the pro women’s soccer space for the first time. While Canada’s women’s national team regularly ranks among the world’s best, it was one of only two nations at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup yet to establish its own pro league.
