Vancouver Rise FC promises to lift up pro women’s soccer in the city and country

You could find all kinds of people in the absolutely packed-to-the-brim room at the D6 Bar and Lounge in Vancouver’s Parq Casino on Monday evening. Young soccer stars, rabid fans, city officials and corporate sponsors all rubbed shoulders as they awaited the announcement of Vancouver’s new professional women’s soccer team.

The reveal didn’t disappoint. The team, owned by Vancouver Whitecaps co-owner Greg Kerfoot and slated to begin play in 2025 as part of the burgeoning Northern Super League, will be known as Vancouver Rise FC. Former Team Canada goalkeeper and Olympic medalist Stephanie Labbé serves as the club’s sporting director, while Sinead King is the team’s chief business officer.

“We kept coming back to the feeling of a name that brought about emotion and a feeling,” said Labbé. “It feels empowering, exciting. I can picture what It means to rise. The rise of women’s sports, soccer and the nod to Vancouver and the city, the ocean rising up, the feeling of the sea and the sky.”

The NSL includes six founding teams, with Ottawa Rapid FC, Halifax Tides FC, Calgary Wild FC and AFC Toronto joining Vancouver in announcing their names and logos. The Montreal squad hasn’t yet announced its branding.

The league is set to kick off its inaugural season in April 2025, with each team playing a 25-game schedule. It’s not clear yet where Rise FC will play, though there may be some games played at BC Place.

Season tickets will go on sale soon and roster announcements are forthcoming. Though it remains to be seen if the many voices calling for Christine Sinclair to join the team will get their wish.