A planned 8 team professional women’s soccer league is coming to Canada in 2025. Former Canadian international Diana Matheson alongside her business partner Thomas Gilbert announced the launch of the project. The league has CIBC and Air Canada as founding partners, with gold medalists Christine Sinclair (still active) and Stephanie Labbé (retired) being involved in the development of the league.
The league has two confirmed teams in Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Calgary Foothills, with the remaining 6 teams planned to be announced in 2023. They are looking at 13 markets for the remaining 6 teams.
The league believes it can compete with NWSL player salaries where the minimum is $35,000 and and a maximum of $75,000 USD. Owners would pay a franchise fee of $1 million, with each ownership group estimated to need eight to $10 million to operate a club through the first five seasons. Project 8 will own 20 per cent of the league, while teams own 80 per cent. The plan is to run independent of Canada Soccer.
There is not broadcast deal in place with Matheson stressing the that visibility is important not just for women’s soccer but women’s sport.
I am not sure how well this will go given the major struggles of women’s sports in Canada including 3 failed professional hockey leagues. The need for the broadcasting deal with be vital to the league having any legs and networks are not prone to giving and spending the funds for the sake of doing so. I wish them best of luck and hopefully Edmonton will gain a team though I suspect they will need a smaller place to play than Commonwealth Stadium.
The domestic league is planning 2025 for their inaugural season.
-Everett
