NSL players understand the soccer spotlight as league enters 2nd season amid FIFA World Cup

Shireen Ahmed · CBC Sports

· Posted: Apr 10, 2026 11:59 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 minute ago

A new season is dropping soon, as the kids like to say. Kickoff for the second season of Canada’s Northern Super League begins Friday, April 24 in Vancouver. 

There have been some notable changes to rosters with some NSL players being picked up by the U.S.-based National Women’s Soccer League, namely AFC Toronto’s captain Emma Regan and Vancouver Rise’s Holly Ward. Both players have also been selected by Casey Stoney for Canada’s national team.

In what may have been the most surprising move, Samantha Chang moved from the Rise, where she won a championship and was team captain, to AFC Toronto. Unfortunately, she tore her ACL in preseason training and will not start the season.  

Beyond the shuffling of rosters and movement, there is also a sense of refreshed identity being established in the league. 

The NSL is not a shiny new thing. It is an established league with blooming traditions and more cultural impact to come. But it is still growing. It needs to be enticing and connect with fans all over the country. 

This year is massive for soccer in Canada with the men’s World Cup just around the corner, and the NSL is looking to take advantage of the soccer-mania. The league will continue to play throughout the tournament as Canada co-hosts the biggest spectacle of soccer in the world. 

In Canada's two host cities, Vancouver and Toronto, the Rise will play at Swanguard Stadium, and AFC Toronto will play at York Lions Stadium before moving to the newly renovated BMO Field after the tournament.

Jessica De Filippo of the Vancouver Rise believes that NSL players have a role in establishing soccer culture in Canada.

“[NSL] sports culture communities are filled with individuals who are passionate, driven, competitive and loyal,” she said. “No matter your race, religious beliefs, gender, language, age or economic class, everyone is welcome to be themselves, to participate, to engage and to enjoy. It’s an opportunity to meet new people and create relationships you never once imagined.” 

There are players like Montreal Roses Mégane Sauvé, a trained teacher, who is effortless in her interviews and so articulate in both French and English. Or Calgary Wild’s Jorian Baucom, who is delightful and said she is a gamer who enjoys Marvel Rivals in her downtime. 

Then there are players who were quite shy or had no media training that first year. At the league’s recent media day, they walked in and engaged in such a different manner. Many are more comfortable with media and interviews, eager to share their own perspectives and happily taking TikToks or making video reels. In some casual and organic conversations, I managed to get fun pieces of information out of some players.

One of my favourite anecdotes came when Syd Kennedy of the Halifax Tides and I were discussing players’ hidden talents. Kennedy informed me that she could juggle. When she came on-camera for the CBC Sports interviews, I promptly handed her coffee creamers (the only items I had on hand) that she juggled for us without missing a beat. 

Sharing the stories of formidable athletes in Canada is part of what will build up the NSL’s fan base as it gets to know these players who have spent much of their career hoping for opportunities to play professionally.

It was noted that most players consider their team’s biggest rival to be AFC Toronto, a fact that Toronto players embraced even if they couldn’t necessarily explain why. I asked Toronto stalwart Nikki Small what was with the Toronto versus everyone mentality?

“If they think that, I’m not mad,” Small said with a smile. “It’s us against the world.” Rivalries and competition are at the root of the league. 

Another aspect of the league’s return is of really fascinating characters. Whether it is Vancouver’s Quinn telling me about the pending book club that Rise players are starting, or that players from Ottawa Rapid are a tightly bound group and as the league’s top scorer, D.B Pridham said “...pressure is a privilege.”

I was in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago and met up with Rise fans Mel Bostrom and Jody Chan. Bostrom is one of the co-founders of the Crows Collective, Rise’s supporter group. We chatted about the upcoming season and how excited they were to not just see the action, but continue to be connected to others through soccer. This is a sentiment echoed by players, as well.

“Sports have brought me the closest people in my life who have all opened my eyes to new environments and beliefs and I am forever grateful,” De Filippo said. 

That the NSL is connecting itself to Canadians through soccer, and through ambassadors who were born, live and play in this country may be the most impactful legacy of the league.