Women’s pro sports is a ‘global phenomenon’ — and Canada is finally joining in

Women's sports is a growing phenomenon worldwide, and Canada is finally joining the action as six teams have applied to join a new national women's soccer league in the country.

Women’s professional sports is a growing phenomenon worldwide, and Canada is increasingly joining in the action.

After the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League this year with three of the six teams from Canadian cities, another six Canadian women’s teams have applied to join a new national Division 1 women’s soccer league in the country.

Called Project 8, it will be the first domestic professional women’s soccer league Canada has ever seen and is a “big deal,” women’s sports advocates told Global News.

So far, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary have announced they have applied to the league, and three other teams will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to Project 8. The league is set to launch in 2025 and has Canadian Tire, CIBC, DoorDash and Air Canada as founding partners.

“The timing (for its launch) couldn’t be better with the growth of viewership and popularity of women’s sports in general,” Kim Brassor, the founder and executive director of Oakville, Ont.-based Future Girls Soccer, told Global News.

“If the right business partners come along and players come along, I think it’s going to be a terrific venture for Canada Soccer.”

Brassor helps coach girls ages eight to 12 in soccer, and said having a professional league in Canada will be a huge inspiration for players. Before Project 8, the only hope for playing the sport professionally would be to go to other countries to play in their leagues, she said.

Now the goal of playing professionally will be much more tangible and provide young players with role models, according to Brassor.