荔枝视频

鈥淢ore young women drop out of sport than young men do.鈥� That鈥檚 one reason why Deanna Zumwalt is changing the game.

Driven by her experiences as a female CEO, mother, former athlete and  alum, Zumwalt launched , Alberta鈥檚 first women鈥檚 professional soccer team. 

She says the team was feeling excited to 鈥渒ick off history鈥� for young women at McMahon Stadium on Mother's Day.  

鈥淵oung boys grow up thinking they're going to be the next Messi, and young girls never had that opportunity. Now we can create that,鈥� says Zumwalt, BComm鈥�93. 

Kicking off history 

Zumwalt didn鈥檛 set out to work in sports, but with the skills of a seasoned corporate executive and football-playing daughter at home, she knew she had to lean into this newfound purpose. 

She says she鈥檒l never forget when former Canadian national team star Diana Matheson showed her a presentation highlighting women鈥檚 professional soccer leagues around the world 鈥� and pointed out Canada wasn鈥檛 on the list.

Matheson was determined to change that. She began working to build Canada鈥檚 first fully professional women鈥檚 league.

Now, Wild FC is part of the Northern Super League (NSL) founded by Matheson. The league has launched its inaugural season this 2025 with teams in 荔枝视频, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax.

As founder and board chair of 荔枝视频 Wild, Zumwalt also serves as board director and chair of the NSL鈥檚 finance committee, helping to kick-start women's soccer nationally and locally. 

A purpose-driven soccer startup 

Without an existing blueprint for a professional women鈥檚 team in 荔枝视频, Zumwalt credits the for giving her some of the tools needed to turn passion into action.  

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 throw in the towel,鈥� she says, adding business school helped her build resilience to push through challenges. 鈥淚n any startup, there鈥檚 always going to be curveballs.鈥� 

Zumwalt says her mission, to elevate a generation of female leaders, on and off the pitch, has always been clear to her, and from this mission 荔枝视频 Wild FC was born.

When it comes to women in the sport, she adds, 鈥淲e always say one per cent will go on to play professional soccer, but that other 99 per cent will go on to something incredible.鈥�  

Inspiring the next generation 

It鈥檚 a vision already inspiring local athletes. Grace Moore, a  soccer player, entering her final year studying at the , says Zumwalt showcases what is possible for young women in the world outside of sport, too. 

鈥淭here鈥檙e more pathways opening for women, whether you鈥檙e an athlete or not. If the opportunity鈥檚 there, you've got to start knocking on the door and take it,鈥� says Moore, a communications student with sports broadcasting experience. 

"It鈥檚 only the start, and it鈥檚 going to be interesting to see what women take on 鈥� on the field or working behind the scenes.鈥� 

Now that there鈥檚 a team in 荔枝视频, Moore says the pathway for a female soccer player is clearer, making her and other women more motivated to work harder to follow their lead to play professional soccer with the NSL, as seen with Talia White, BKin鈥�21, a former Dinos player who is joining the Wild FC team.

For Moore, the excitement is apparent, and overdue. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been waiting for this a long time,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he home opener is going to be one to remember.鈥� 

 Zumwalt says 荔枝视频 Wild FC is looking forward to "making things real鈥� for the young women that come to watch the match.  

鈥淔or them to kind of see their role models, their mentors and people they can shoot to be like, that's super-important,鈥� she says. 

The team will kick off on May 11 at 5 p.m. at McMahon Stadium against Ottawa Rapid for their fourth game of the season, and their first match on home soil. Tickets can be purchased at .