Forward Christine Sinclair says there is a need for women's professional soccer clubs in Canada.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
On the eve of the Women’s World Cup, Canada captain Christine Sinclair is sounding the call for women’s pro soccer in Canada.
Sinclair has made a career of growing the sport of women’s soccer and she’s not finished yet.
“When I first joined the national team, no one cared, no one paid attention. You couldn’t make a career playing the sport unless you were on the U.S. team,” Sinclair said in an interview Thursday. “So I’m proud to be a part of the change.
“But there’s still so much to be done. ... Our sport just needs the opportunities. People will watch, people will pay to come see it. But we just need the opportunities, especially here in Canada. I’m not going to lie, it’s sad to me that we don’t have any professional teams or a professional league here.
“Whereas on the men’s side they have MLS and now the new professional league [the Canadian Premier League], for young girls, there’s nothing.”
It’s a passion for the 35-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., who played for the Vancouver Breakers and Whitecaps before moving south of the border in 2009 to star for FC Gold Pride, Western New York Flash and, since 2013, the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League.
“We continue to be one of the powers in women’s soccer, yet we’re probably the only top-12 team that doesn’t have a professional system. That disappoints me,” Sinclair said.
While the star forward said she does not have all the answers on bringing women’s pro soccer to Canada, “it needs to happen – sooner than later.”
Now in its fourth season, the NWSL has nine teams – all in the United States.
“To me, it just doesn’t make sense that we couldn’t have one or two teams in the NWSL from Canada. ... We have players forced to leave Canada to go find a place to play, which doesn’t sit well with me,” Sinclair told a news conference after training Thursday.
The Canadian women, currently ranked fifth in the world, play host to No. 26 Mexico on Saturday at BMO Field in their farewell match before leaving for the World Cup in France.
Canada opens June 10 against No. 46 Cameroon in Montpellier.
Veterans Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod ruled out of World Cup squad through injury
Veteran midfielder Diana Matheson and goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who have a combined 321 caps for Canada, have been ruled out of the World Cup because of injuries.
Both players have been integral to the Canadian women’s success over the years – McLeod made her senior debut in 2002 and Matheson in 2003. Both have also endured a long list of health issues.
Matheson is currently dealing with a toe injury that requires surgery while McLeod is dealing with foot pain owing to plantar fasciitis.
“A huge loss,” coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller said.
Canada has until May 24 to name its 23-woman roster for the World Cup, which opens June 7 in France.
McLeod, who holds the Canadian record for caps by a goalkeeper, has appeared at four World Cups and two Olympics.