In this edition, we catch up on where PWHL teams stand with playoffs approaching and celebrate the announcement of the first PWHL expansion franchise– plus, we share our guesses on the next city that may soon receive exciting news. We also take a look at the opening matches of the NSL season and some upcoming Canada Soccer games this summer, including a special celebration match. Lastly, we dive into Flex, a girls’ basketball production now showing in Toronto. 

The stories of the week show girls in sport and physical activity that:

• The pipeline from playing a sport, seeing role models in person, and envisioning a future as a professional athlete is becoming much clearer for those living in Vancouver and the surrounding areas.  
• The addition of a professional women’s soccer league in Canada was overdue, inevitable, and is already fitting beautifully into the girls’ and women’s sports landscape. Many knew it already, but the appetite for following women’s professional soccer in this country is undeniable.
• By combining women’s sports and entertainment through a production like Flex, it shows that women’s sports extend beyond leagues and live games. There are growing crossover opportunities– and a real demand from fans and consumers to engage with them.

PWHL TEAMS FIGHT FOR LIMITED PLAYOFF SPOTS

 

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season has resumed after a break for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Czechia, where Team USA won 4–3 in overtime against Team Canada.

Before the break, the Montréal Victoire secured the first spot in the 2025 PWHL Playoffs. The Toronto Sceptres have also secured a playoff spot, while the New York Sirens have been eliminated from contention. 

The final two playoff spots remain up for grabs, with the Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, and Boston Fleet all in contention. The upcoming PWHL schedule can be found here.

PWHL FOCUSES ON EXPANSION FRANCHISE FOR 2025/26 SEASON

 

Last week, the PWHL held a special event in Vancouver, British Columbia, where it was confirmed that the city will have its own team starting in the 2025/26 season. 

PWHL executives, members of the Vancouver community, and a local U11 girls’ hockey team (who officially announced the team in this adorable video) all spoke about the success of the Vancouver PWHL Takeover Tour game in January.

During the PWHL’s first and second seasons, games typically began between November and January. Therefore, it’s likely that the PWHL Vancouver team will debut towards the end of 2025. To keep up with the latest updates on PWHL Vancouver, including season membership deposits, all team information can be found here.

Additionally, the PWHL will make another special announcement this week at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Seattle hosted a PWHL Takeover Tour game in January, where the crowd gave a warm reception to Jessica Campbell, the first woman to hold a full-time assistant coach position in the NHL, who currently coaches for the Seattle Kraken. 

We recommend keeping an eye on the PWHL’s YouTube page on Wednesday for a potential live stream of the special announcement.

FIRST KICKS OF THE NORTHERN SUPER LEAGUE SEASON

 

The Northern Super League (NSL) has officially launched, and its inaugural season is already meeting and exceeding expectations. With five games played, the league has already seen attendance records, sold-out merchandise, and star-studded athlete appearances. 

Vancouver Rise FC hosted the opening game at BC Place, where they faced Calgary Wild FC. 

AFC Toronto followed with their debut at BMO Field against Montréal Roses FC. Thanks to AFC Toronto, the Girls Forward Foundation team had the opportunity to hear our executive director, Gaby Estrada, speak on a panel before the game– and were also able to attend Toronto’s first home game. A recap of that day from our POV can be viewed here.

This past weekend, Halifax Tides FC hosted their first home game at Wanderers Grounds against Calgary Wild FC, while Ottawa Rapids FC hosted AFC Toronto at TD Place. 

The full season schedule can be found here.

CANADA SOCCER WNT SUMMER TOUR INCLUDES DESIREE SCOTT CELEBRATION

 

Canada Soccer has announced that the Women’s National Team (WNT) will face Haiti in two games this summer. The matches will take place in late May and early June at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Saputo Stadium in Montréal, Quebec.

Desiree Scott, a member of the WNT and Ottawa Rapids FC (NSL), recently announced her retirement from the national team while continuing her club career. The Winnipeg match will celebrate Scott’s career, as she was born and raised in the city. 

Pre-sale tickets will be available starting May 2nd. To learn more about the upcoming games, click here.

THEATRE MEETS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IN WNBA-INSPIRED PRODUCTION, FLEX

 

This is women’s sports and entertainment taken to the next level!

Flex is a live basketball production set in 1997, following a girls’ high school basketball team striving for a future in the WNBA. The play explores the challenges of “being young, Black, and female in rural Arkansas, where a mistake on the court can become a foul in real life.” 

Hosted at Crow’s Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, the show runs until May 18th. Tickets are available here, including pay-what-you-can options on select dates and a Black Out Night performance on May 8th to celebrate the Black community. 

 

Kaitlyn’s Sport Stories Recap are written by Kaitlyn Lehbert, a passionate and driven sport advocate for girls and women. Kaitlyn holds her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Brock University. Learn more about Kaitlyn by clicking here!

Have a sport story you want to share? Contact info@girlsforward.ca and it may get featured in Kaitlyn’s next feature.