We are thrilled to announce the next feature in our ongoing blog series, Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead. Throughout 2025, we will highlight various women leaders who advocate for gender equity, believe in the power of sport, and continue to support and amplify the need to get more girls in sport and physical activity. They are women who broke down barriers (and continue to do so), are leaders in their fields, and who hope to leave an impact on their sectors. We’re so excited for our series to continue by chatting with Kyla Lane, the Founder and visionary behind Her Soul Shot, a virtual community for adult women playing sports at all ages and levels.

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HELPING WOMEN TAKE THEIR SHOT IN SPORTS. KYLA’S JOURNEY with ADULT SPORT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND MOTHERHOOD.

 

Learning more about Kyla Lane and her journey through sport, it becomes clear that Her Soul Shot, the business and community she runs, was built from the heart of someone who knows what it feels like to not see a place for yourself in sport. So much of Kyla’s work and direction with Her Soul Shot is rooted in what past-tense Kyla needed. And today, where she stands- as an athlete, entrepreneur, and mom- is reflected in every decision she makes to help more women access sport in ways she once couldn’t.

“I created Her Soul Shot in 2020 as a platform to give women in sports a voice,” she says. “There’s still a lack of exposure, resources, and support for women playing (or who want to play) recreational, social, or elite sports in adulthood.”

The gap is something Kyla felt personally. Although she grew up playing sports, there weren’t opportunities that showed women they could stay in sport beyond high school or early adulthood- let alone return to it or try something new later in life. So at 20 years old, she did something bold.

“I taught myself to play goalie in ball and ice hockey and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” she says. “It gave me something to work towards, allowed me to meet new people, and fuelled my competitive spirit.”

I created Her Soul Shot in 2020 as a platform to give women in sports a voice. There’s still a lack of exposure, resources, and support for women playing (or who want to play) recreational, social, or elite sports in adulthood.”

It also changed the way she saw herself.

“I’m so grateful that I was brave enough to be bad at something new because it’s brought me so much in life and taught me more about myself than I could’ve imagined.”

That spirit- of carving out a space when none exists- has shaped Her Soul Shot from the beginning. Kyla didn’t just build something for athletes at the top of their game. She built it for the everyday woman who’s juggling work, identity, kids, or life changes, and still wants to play.

“Her Soul Shot provides a community of adult women playing sports (from women who have been playing their whole lives to women who learned to play a new sport in their 40s) with support, resources, a directory to find leagues and teams around the world, and events/playing opportunities specifically for adult women.”

I’m so grateful that I was brave enough to be bad at something new because it’s brought me so much in life and taught me more about myself than I could’ve imagined.”

It’s a space that celebrates sport as something you can return to, start fresh in, or rediscover- not something left behind in your youth.

“I just want to sell women on the fact that they can play sports no matter how old they are or what their skill level is,” she says, “and that their passion and sports are just as worthy.”

Motherhood has only made this mission more urgent for Kyla. “Playing sports is the ultimate self-care for moms – it’s a scheduled workout, mental health boost, socializing time, and does wonders to build confidence and give you a purpose outside of motherhood.”

She wants moms to feel permission to take up that space- to remember they were whole, complex women before becoming mothers, and that sport is a way to reclaim joy, energy, and identity.

“We were all women before becoming moms, and sports allows women to do something for themselves again.”

Kyla also keeps her focus close to home, speaking highly about the state of girls’ and women’s sports in Edmonton.

“Edmonton has a thriving and growing adult ball hockey league and a new girls ball hockey league that’s introducing girls to the game,” she says. “Ball hockey is more accessible as it’s cheaper, requires less equipment, and doesn’t have the steep learning curve of needing to skate to play. I hope more girls and women find their way into ball hockey.”

She’s working to remove more of those barriers, not just financially or logistically, but emotionally. Because starting something new as an adult takes courage. And often, it takes someone creating the opportunity first.

“The biggest improvement I’d like to see (and something I’m working on creating) is setting up more opportunities for women to try new sports in a safe and fun environment,” she says. “It’s really hard to learn something new as an adult, and it can be difficult to find the opportunities to try new sports.”

So she’s making that space- in Edmonton, across Canada, and online.

Events amplified by Her Soul Shot help women and girls see something they always deserved: a thriving, welcoming world of women’s sports.

I think of the women who have inspired me so much on this journey- not the pro athletes or the women who made it big, but the everyday women that continue showing up for themselves, and for other women like them.”

“There are so many incredible women who learned to play a new sport in adulthood despite being scared and having little support; women who are fitting sport into their busy lives between careers, kids, and life changes; women who are just out there playing for the love of the game and inspiring others to do the same.”

Kyla’s admiration isn’t saved for the elite. It’s the everyday women who inspire her the most.

“I think of the women who have inspired me so much on this journey- not the pro athletes or the women who made it big, but the everyday women that continue showing up for themselves, and for other women like them.”

These women don’t have trainers or sponsorship deals. They show up to late-night games after a full day’s work and putting the kids to bed. They lace up because they love the game. Because they deserve to play.

Because someone like Kyla made a place for them.

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Our Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead blog series highlights women in leadership positions who are passionate about empowering girls through sport, physical activity and education. Launched in January 2025, the series will highlight various women throughout 2025. If you are interested in learning more or supporting this series, please email us at info@girlsforward.ca