VANCOUVER 鈥� Christine Sinclair has always wanted to leave soccer in a better place for future players.
The Canadian legend believes her latest role as part owner of Vancouver's new professional women's soccer team will do just that.
麻豆传媒映画Rise FC announced Monday that Sinclair is joining Greg Kerfoot in the club's ownership group as the National Super League prepares to launch in April.
鈥淭he future of soccer in Canada depends on the Northern Super League, depends on clubs like 麻豆传媒映画Rise," Sinclair said on a video call. "And I鈥檓 honoured and privileged to be a part of it."
Kids need to see women's professional sports to know that they, too, can play for a living, the soccer star said.
鈥淚 think of myself as like a 10-year-old, if I had the opportunity to go watch women鈥檚 professional soccer every second weekend, how that would have impacted my life, how that would have changed my life," Sinclair said.
"Because I was convinced I was going to be a major-league baseball player because that鈥檚 all I could see on TV. These young girls growing up will have a completely different reality.鈥�
Hailing from Burnaby, B.C., Sinclair is one of Canada's most revered athletes and ended her international career last year as the world's top goal scorer with 190 goals.
She helped the women's national team win gold at the Tokyo Olympics, and bronze at both the 2016 Games in Rio and the 2012 Games in London.
Last month, the 41-year-old Sinclair announced that she will retire from professional soccer later this year after playing her 11th season with the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League.
The Thorns are set to play the 麻豆传媒映画Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match at B.C. Place in 麻豆传媒映画on Oct. 15 before closing the regular season campaign on Nov. 1.
Being unable to play professional soccer for a 麻豆传媒映画team is one regret that Sinclair said will linger as her playing days come to a close.
"That would have been a dream," "That would have been a dream," said Sinclair, who previously played semi-pro soccer with the 麻豆传媒映画Whitecaps in the USL W-League. "But when you know you鈥檙e done, you鈥檙e done. And I鈥檓 gladly hanging up the boots at the end of this season."
Rise sporting director Stephanie Labbe admitted she hoped she would see her former national team teammate don a 麻豆传媒映画jersey, but understood Sinclair's decision.
鈥淚 know all too well that feeling of when you鈥檙e ready to retire, you鈥檙e ready to retire and move on to what鈥檚 next," Labbe said. "So it was a quick change of direction from, 鈥榃ell, if you鈥檙e not coming as a player, what else can you do? How else can we get you involved?鈥�
"It鈥檚 a no-brainer for me to have Sinc involved in the club in some capacity.鈥�
Launching a new league is nothing new for Sinclair. She was involved when the now-defunct Women's Professional Soccer made its debut in 2009, and when the NWSL began in 2013.
Those experiences have shown what's important for a new league, she said, from how much players are paid to how many teams are included.
鈥淚 think previous leagues started way too big and then weren鈥檛 able to sustain themselves," Sinclair said. "I think what the Northern Super League is doing is starting at a realistic base."
With six founding teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, the NSL is set to kick off its inaugural season in April. Each team is set to play a 25-game schedule next year.
Labbe said she expects Rise will announce the club's first player signings and head coach in the next several weeks.
Sinclair declined to say what her ownership percentage will be, calling it instead "a small chunk" and saying her role will be to bring awareness to the club and help it grow.
鈥淲hatever they need from me, I鈥檒l be there to help support," she said.
The appetite and support for women's sports is growing, Sinclair said, so joining the NSL "makes perfect sense."
鈥淭he time is now for women鈥檚 sports," she said.
"If you go across Canada 鈥� obviously we did with the national team 鈥� people are begging to be able to watch professional sports here in Canada, women鈥檚 professional sports.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
