Major Milestone: Winnipeg Gets Northern Super League Expansion Franchise

Summary:

• Winnipeg has been awarded the Northern Super League’s seventh franchise and will begin play in the 2027 season.
• Former Canada star Desiree Scott will serve as the club’s vice president of community and player experience.
• The league wishes to expand to eight teams by 2028 following a $30 million investment.

The Northern Super League (NSL) has announced that Manitoba‘s capital has officially received the league’s seventh franchise. This represents an important major milestone for women’s sports in Canada, bringing professional soccer to the province for the first time.

Scott, Co-Founder and VP of Player Experience

The expansion club is set to begin play in the 2027 season, just two years after the Northern Super League launched its inaugural campaign in 2025.

For former Canadian national team star Desiree Scott, the announcement carries special significance. A Winnipeg native who earned 188 caps for Canada and won Olympic gold, Scott spent much of her playing career explaining where she came from and advocating for soccer opportunities in Manitoba.

Often, in my career, I had to defend where I came from. People didn’t know where I lived, ‘Winnipeg, where is that?’

Scott will serve as the club’s co-founder and vice president of community and player experience, with no current plans to go back to the pitch herself.

The magnificent seventh. pic.twitter.com/rafYSKyLtw

— Northern Super League (@NorthernSuperLg) July 14, 2026

Gale: “Twice-in-a-Lifetime” Opportunity

Joining her in the ownership group is chief sporting officer Rob Gale, who previously played a key role in launching Valor FC of the Canadian Premier League. 

Gale described the opportunity as a “twice-in-a-lifetime” chance to establish another professional soccer club in Winnipeg.

The Northern Super League’s president, Christina Litz, said Winnipeg was a natural choice for expansion as the league seeks to establish a stronger presence across Canada.

“From the very beginning, Winnipeg showed its desire to have a team here“, Litz said, adding that the city had long been missing a women’s professional sports franchise.

The team’s official name, colors, crest, and home venue are expected to be announced in the coming months.

The rapid expansion has been aided by a recent $30 million investment from APEX, a Europe-based athlete-backed sports private equity firm. Litz confirmed that the NSL is targeting an eighth franchise by 2028.

League officials say the Winnipeg club will be community-driven, with a local minority ownership group holding a 30% stake and season ticket deposits already available.