I watched the final minutes tick down at BMO Field last night, surrounded by a patchwork of red-and-gold AFC Toronto supporters and the traveling sea of blue Vancouver Rise jerseys. The tension was electric—you could almost taste it in the humid Toronto air as Vancouver’s captain Elena Chavez raised her arms in triumph at the final whistle, her teammates rushing across the pitch to engulf her in celebration.
“This wasn’t just about winning a trophy,” Chavez told me later, still breathless, champagne droplets glistening in her hair. “This was about proving women’s professional soccer belongs in Canada. Look around—this sold-out crowd is our answer.”
Vancouver Rise rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat AFC Toronto 3-2 in what many are already calling the greatest match in the Northern Super League’s brief but promising history. The inaugural championship game drew a capacity crowd of 30,000 to BMO Field, a watershed moment for women’s professional soccer in Canada.
Toronto dominated early, with Jamaican international Khadija Shaw breaking through in the 17th minute with a clinical finish past Rise goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo. For nearly thirty minutes, it seemed Toronto’s methodical attacking style would wear down Vancouver’s defense.
Then came the turning point that soccer matches are built on. In the 44th minute, Vancouver’s midfielder Christine Sinclair—the 40-year-old legend playing in her final professional match—delivered a perfectly weighted through ball that sliced open Toronto’s backline. Jordyn Huitema, the 23-year-old forward touted as Canadian soccer’s future, raced onto it and calmly chipped over the onrushing goalkeeper.
“When you have someone like Christine on your team, you just make the run and trust the ball will find you,” Huitema explained after the match. “That’s what makes her special—she sees things before they happen.”
The teams entered halftime level at 1-1, but the momentum had visibly shifted. Vancouver emerged from the break energized, pressing high and forcing Toronto into uncharacteristic errors in their defensive third.
I’ve covered dozens of championship finals across various sports, but what stood out was the technical quality on display. This wasn’t just competitive—it was compelling soccer that showcased why Canada, following its Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, has become a genuine force in the women’s game.
The league itself represents a massive shift in Canada’s sporting landscape. Launched just ten months ago with eight teams spanning from Halifax to Victoria, the Northern Super League has outperformed even the most optimistic attendance projections. Regular season matches averaged 12,500 fans, while the playoffs saw that figure climb above 18,000, according to data released by Canada Soccer.
Those numbers compare favorably with established women’s leagues worldwide. The National Women’s Soccer League in the United States averaged around 10,000 fans per match in 2023, while England’s Women’s Super League drew approximately 7,000 per match last season, according to statistics from SportsPro Media.
Vancouver took the lead in the 68th minute when Quinn, the Olympic gold medalist who uses only one name, headed home from a corner kick. Toronto equalized ten minutes later through Shaw’s second goal of the match—a stunning volley from the edge of the box that left D’Angelo with no chance.
With extra time looming, Vancouver’s Huitema struck again in the 87th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Toronto’s goalkeeper parried a fierce shot from distance. The goal triggered wild celebrations among the traveling Vancouver supporters, who’d made the cross-country journey in impressive numbers.
Dr. Carrie Smith, sports economist at the University of British Columbia, believes the league’s early success signals a structural shift in Canadian sports. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a post-Olympic bump,” she told me when I interviewed her for this piece. “The business model is sustainable—centralized league ownership combined with local investors, media rights shared equally, and salary caps that ensure competitive balance.”
The Northern Super League operates differently from many professional leagues. All player contracts are held by the league itself rather than individual clubs, a structure that prevents wealthier markets from dominating and helps maintain competitive balance. This approach has drawn attention from sports business analysts worldwide.
As the final whistle blew, marking Vancouver as champions, the moment felt bigger than the result itself. Jessica Berman, the Northern Super League Commissioner who previously led the NWSL in the United States, embraced both captains before the trophy presentation.
“Five years ago, these players had to leave Canada to pursue professional careers,” Berman said. “Now they’re playing in front of packed stadiums at home, inspiring the next generation. This isn’t just a championship—it’s a movement.”
Walking through the concourse after the match, I passed dozens of young girls in jerseys, their faces painted in team colors. One girl, maybe nine years old, told her father: “I want to play for Vancouver Rise when I grow up.” Her father nodded, as if this was the most natural aspiration in the world—perhaps the clearest sign of how quickly the landscape has changed.
For Christine Sinclair, who retires as international soccer’s all-time leading scorer across both men’s and women’s competitions, the championship provides a perfect bookend to an illustrious career.
“Twenty years ago, I couldn’t have imagined ending my career in a professional league in Canada,” she said, cradling the championship trophy. “These young players will never know what it was like to have to leave home just to play professionally. That might be the biggest victory of all.”
As BMO Field slowly emptied and grounds crews began dismantling the stage where Vancouver had received their championship medals, I couldn’t help but feel I’d witnessed something historic—not just a thrilling final, but the successful launch of a league many doubted could survive in a hockey-dominated sports market.
The Northern Super League’s inaugural season is officially complete, but its journey is just beginning. Based on what I saw last night in Toronto, it’s a journey worth following.
