In less than a week the Northern Super League will be returning for its second season on the pitch with some new incentives for fans.
This year the NSL is launching Northern Super League: Best of the Week, a one-hour weekly highlight program that features the “biggest goals, defining plays, and standout performances” meant to reel in longtime fans and new ones alike. The series will air throughout the week on TSN and on the NSL YouTube channel.
To expand its coverage even further, the league also introduced NSL Soccer Saturdays where matches are broadcast every Saturday for the entire regular season. Additional fixtures will also be broadcast on weekdays throughout the season as well.
The Northern Super League, founded by Diana B. Matheson, is the first professional women's soccer league in Canada. The league features six clubs: Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montréal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto, and Vancouver Rise FC.
Teams to watch
Kate McKenna, a host of the NSL on TSN, said she thinks Toronto might still be the favourite this season because of how much depth it has in its roster.
“They have so many good players, and I think really did feel robbed in the final last year,” McKenna said. “So, I certainly think they're out to prove something [this season].”
AFC Toronto lost to the Vancouver Rise 2-1 in the league’s final on Nov. 15, 2025 at BMO Field. Toronto topped the standings in the regular season with a 16-6-3 record and a league best 51 points, which handed them the first-ever Supporters’ Shield.
She also said another team that was counted out by people are the champions of the inaugural season, Vancouver Rise FC.
“Even though they finished third during the regular season, they managed to come from behind and win.”
By the end of its regular season the Rise accumulated 39 points for a record of 11-8-6 which put them a dozen points from taking the top spot.
“They have some really key players, including Quinn, Nikki Stanton, Jessica DiBello, and their goalkeeper Morgan McCaskill,” McKenna said.
Players to watch
Apart from the teams, she also mentioned some of many players that fans should have their eyes on when the season kicks off this week.
“I mean you can't start the conversation without mentioning D.B. Pridham,” she said.
“She was the player of the year last year, led the league in goals, and she wasn't a player who I think many Canadians would be familiar with, and yet she took the league by storm, was an incredible player to watch, both in terms of her goal scoring ability and her off the ball ability,” McKenna said.
She also said other aspects that stand out about her is that she is multifaceted, has been called up to the Canadian women’s national team and has gotten a chance to start.
“This league has really propelled her and she's absolutely one to watch.”
Another player McKenna said “will continue to ascend in this country” is Kaylee Hunter, a now 18-year-old attacker for AFC Toronto.
Hunter, who started with Toronto as a 17-year-old ended up getting a lot of playing time where she quickly became a starter. By the end of the season, she finished second in goals behind D.B. Pridham with 16 and third in shots on target (including goals) with 39.
Since then, Hunter has been called up to the Canadian women’s national team two times playing alongside familiar names like Jesse Fleming, Julia Grosso, and Evelyne Viens. She was first called up in October 2025 but has yet to score a goal in a match.
Hunter will take the pitch with her teammates for the first time since the inaugural NSL Final when AFC Toronto faces Vancouver Rise FC on Friday at Swangard Stadium.
You can read Humber Et Cetera’s preview of the season opener here.
