Push to bring women’s professional soccer to Edmonton

Edmonton may soon host a professional women's soccer team, a first for the city. Local leaders are pushing for the Northern Super League (NSL) to expand its operations to Alberta's capital.

The NSL currently features seven teams, with plans for its third season including cities like Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Halifax. However, Edmonton is not yet on the roster. City Councilor Thu Parmar is working to change this, following a recent visit from NSL representatives to discuss potential expansion.

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The passion is there, the drive. These girls work so hard. They live and breathe soccer. And I would love for them to have a pathway to the professionals in their own country, their own backyard.

Parmar outlined three crucial steps for Edmonton to secure a team: demonstrating community support through initiatives like a circulating petition, securing a suitable home venue such as Foote Field or Clarke Stadium, and attracting investors willing to fund the team's establishment.

Local soccer coach Marni Devlin Moses is collaborating with Parmar on this initiative. She highlighted the abundance of talented players in the city and expressed a desire for them to have a professional pathway within their own country. Autumn Wynn, a former player and assistant coach, echoed this sentiment, wishing for such an opportunity during her own playing career.

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Being able to play the sport that I love and getting paid to do it, I think it’s just super exciting.