Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Sign New Zealand Defender Rebecca Lake
Vancouver Rise FC announced on Thursday that the club has signed New Zealand defender Rebecca Lake as their final signing of the transfer window.
We’re excited to welcome Rebecca Lake to our roster” said Interim Sporting Director Robyn Gale. “Rebecca brings an ambitious mindset with strong leadership qualities, adding valuable depth at the center back position.”
Lake, 26, joins from A-League side Wellington Phoenix FC. The Kiwi joined New Zealand-based Phoenix FC in 2023, playing 19 times across two seasons where she was vice-captain.
“I’m already loving the environment here at Vancouver Rise—great players, but even better people” said Lake on her signing. “Everyone’s got a winning mindset, and I can’t wait to get involved.”
Prior to joining Phoenix, Lake played for Northern Tigers FC in 2023 in the New South Wales National Premier Leagues (NPL), Australia’s third division for Women’s football. She played 18 times and made 14 starts for Tigers FC, helping them finish fifth in the table out of 14 teams. In New Zealand, Lake was an integral part of New Zealand National Women’s National League side Canterbury United Pride, having played there from 2014 until 2022. The defender was captain of The Pride for three seasons, including when they won the historic three-peat league championship in 2020, scoring three goals on the way to the title.
“We are very happy to have Rebecca at Vancouver Rise FC.” said Rise FC Head Coach Anja Heiner-Møller. “Rebecca comes in with great experience and leadership skills as a centerback. She has only been with us for a few days, but her willingness to impact the ball and positive mindset has been noticed already.”
Internationally, Lake has represented New Zealand at both the U-17 and U-20 level, going to two youth FIFA World Cups in 2016 (U-17 in Jordan) and 2018 (U-20 in France). She was also called up to the senior national team in January of 2023 in their friendlies against the United States. Lake also captained the New Zealand futsal team in the 2022 World University Championship in Portugal. In her youth, she played for Waimakariri United in New Zealand.
Rebecca Lake
Pronunciation: Re-BECK-ka LAYKE
Position: Defender
Height: 5-09
Date of Birth: May 13, 1999 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand
Citizenship: New Zealand
Status: International
Previous Clubs: Wellington Phoenix FC (Australia), Northern Tigers FC (Australia), Canterbury United Pride (New Zealand).
Sports
Northern Super League Releases 2026 Schedule
Northern Super League today announced its 2026 regular season schedule, returning for a second season after a debut year that proved professional women’s soccer has a powerful place in Canada’s sports and entertainment landscape.
The season opens Friday, April 24, with a marquee rematch of the NSL Final, as Toronto and Vancouver meet at Swanguard Stadium in Vancouver to kick off the campaign — reigniting one of the League’s defining rivalries from the very first whistle. This season’s opening match is followed by home matches in every NSL market in the first two weeks of the season:
Saturday, April 25, 2026—Halifax Tides host Ottawa Rapid FC at Wanderers Grounds
Saturday, April 25, 2026— Calgary Wild FC hosts Montréal Roses at McMahon Stadium
Saturday, May 2, 2026—Ottawa Rapid FC hosts Calgary Wild FC at TD Place
Saturday, May 2, 2026—Montréal Roses host Vancouver Rise FC at Stade Boréale
Sunday, May 3, 2026— AFC Toronto hosts Halifax Tides at BMO Field
Running from April through November, the 2026 season delivers a consistent, coast-to-coast schedule across spring, summer, and fall, and will conclude with the NSL Final on Saturday, November 14. The neutral-site host city for the championship match will be announced in the coming months.
Apart from international breaks for women’s competitions, the 2026 season will continue uninterrupted through June and July. Fans — including international soccer fans visiting Canada — are welcome to experience Canadian professional women’s soccer live on broadcast and in stadium during a landmark summer for men’s international soccer in Canada.
Season One established a strong foundation, marked by competitive matches, emerging rivalries, and electric atmospheres in stadiums nationwide. Fans responded to the accessibility of the live match experience and to the quality, intensity, and skill of the players on the pitch.
“Season One demonstrated that Canada was ready for professional women’s soccer with world-leading attendance and fierce competition on the pitch,” said League President Christina Litz. “In 2026, a year when the country will be celebrating the game at new levels, we’re building on that momentum by delivering great soccer, showcasing elite talent, and creating experiences that make fans want to be part of it week after week.”
With the 2026 schedule now confirmed, fans can begin planning their season and secure tickets through their local club. Clubs across the Northern Super League are offering a range of ticketing options, including season memberships and flexible packages, providing multiple ways for supporters to attend matches throughout the season. Learn more in the Insider Guide here .
Broadcast and streaming details — including live matches in English and French on TSN, CBC, Radio-Canada, and YouTube — will be announced in the coming weeks
2026 NSL Regular Season
April
- Friday, April 24 — Vancouver Rise FC vs AFC Toronto at Swanguard Stadium
- Saturday, April 25 — Halifax Tides FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, April 25 — Calgary Wild FC vs Montréal Roses FC at McMahon Stadium
May
- Saturday, May 2 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Calgary Wild FC at TD Place
- Saturday, May 2 — Montréal Roses FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at Stade Boréale
- Sunday, May 3 — AFC Toronto vs Halifax Tides FC at BMO Field
- Wednesday, May 6 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at TD Place
- Sunday, May 10 — AFC Toronto vs Montréal Roses FC at BMO Field
- Wednesday, May 13 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Halifax Tides FC at TD Place
- Saturday, May 16 — Calgary Wild FC vs Montréal Roses FC at McMahon Stadium
- Monday, May 18 — Halifax Tides FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, May 23 — Vancouver Rise FC vs AFC Toronto at Swanguard Stadium
- Saturday, May 23 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Montréal Roses FC at TD Place
- Sunday, May 24 — Calgary Wild FC vs Halifax Tides FC at McMahon Stadium
- Friday, May 29 — Halifax Tides FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, May 30 — Montréal Roses FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at Stade Boréale
- Sunday, May 31 — Calgary Wild FC vs AFC Toronto at McMahon Stadium
June
- Saturday, June 13 — Halifax Tides FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, June 13 — AFC Toronto vs Montréal Roses FC at York Lions Stadium
- Sunday, June 14 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Thursday, June 18 — Halifax Tides FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Sunday, June 21 — Montréal Roses FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Stade Boréale
- Sunday, June 21 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs AFC Toronto at TD Place
- Thursday, June 25 — Montréal Roses FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, June 27 — Calgary Wild FC vs Halifax Tides FC at McMahon Stadium
- Sunday, June 28 — Vancouver Rise FC vs AFC Toronto at Swanguard Stadium
July
- Saturday, July 4 — Montréal Roses FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at Stade Boréale
- Sunday, July 5 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Calgary Wild FC at TD Place
- Sunday, July 5 — Halifax Tides FC vs AFC Toronto at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, July 11 — Calgary Wild FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, July 11 — AFC Toronto vs Ottawa Rapid FC at York Lions Stadium
- Sunday, July 12 — Montréal Roses FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Stade Boréale
- Thursday, July 16 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Halifax Tides FC at TD Place
- Friday, July 17 — Calgary Wild FC vs Montréal Roses FC at McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, July 18 — AFC Toronto vs Vancouver Rise FC at York Lions Stadium
- Wednesday, July 22 — Calgary Wild FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at McMahon Stadium
- Thursday, July 23 — Montréal Roses FC vs AFC Toronto at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, July 25 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Tuesday, July 28 — AFC Toronto vs Calgary Wild FC at York Lions Stadium
- Wednesday, July 29 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Montréal Roses FC at Swanguard Stadium
August
- Saturday, August 1 — Calgary Wild FC vs AFC Toronto at McMahon Stadium
- Monday, August 3 — Halifax Tides FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Friday, August 7 — Montréal Roses FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, August 8 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Sunday, August 9 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs AFC Toronto at TD Place
- Saturday, August 15 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Saturday, August 15 — Calgary Wild FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at McMahon Stadium
Sunday, August 16 — AFC Toronto vs Montréal Roses FC at BMO Field - Saturday, August 22 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at TD Place
- Sunday, August 23 — Halifax Tides FC vs AFC Toronto at Wanderers Grounds
- Sunday, August 23 — Montréal Roses FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, August 29 — Montréal Roses FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, August 29 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Sunday, August 30 — AFC Toronto vs Ottawa Rapid FC at BMO Field
September
- Saturday, September 5 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Halifax Tides FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Sunday, September 6 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Montréal Roses FC at TD Place
- Sunday, September 6 — AFC Toronto vs Calgary Wild FC at BMO Field
Thursday, September 10 — Montréal Roses FC vs AFC Toronto at Stade Boréale - Saturday, September 12 — Calgary Wild FC vs Halifax Tides FC at McMahon Stadium
- Sunday, September 13 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Saturday, September 19 — Halifax Tides FC vs AFC Toronto at Wanderers Grounds
- Saturday, September 19 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Montréal Roses FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Sunday, September 20 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Calgary Wild FC at TD Place
- Saturday, September 26 — AFC Toronto vs Ottawa Rapid FC at York Lions Stadium
- Sunday, September 27 — Halifax Tides FC vs Montréal Roses FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Sunday, September 27 — Calgary Wild FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at McMahon Stadium
October
- Friday, October 2 — Montréal Roses FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Stade Boréale
- Saturday, October 3 — Halifax Tides FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Sunday, October 4 — AFC Toronto vs Vancouver Rise FC at York Lions Stadium
- Saturday, October 17 — Halifax Tides FC vs Montréal Roses FC at Wanderers Grounds
- Sunday, October 18 — AFC Toronto vs Calgary Wild FC at BMO Field
- Sunday, October 18 — Ottawa Rapid FC vs Vancouver Rise FC at TD Place
- Friday, October 23 — Montréal Roses FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at Stade Boréale
- Sunday, October 25 — Vancouver Rise FC vs Calgary Wild FC at Swanguard Stadium
- Monday, October 26 — AFC Toronto vs Halifax Tides FC at BMO Field
2026 NSL Playoffs and Final
- Saturday, October 31 — Semi-Final A, Leg 1 (Location TBD)
- Sunday, November 1 — Semi-Final B, Leg 1 (Location TBD)
- Saturday, November 7 — Semi-Final A, Leg 2 (Location TBD)
- Sunday, November 8 — Semi-Final B, Leg 2 (Location TBD)
- Saturday, November 14 — NSL Final (Neutral-site host city to be announced)
The full 2026 Northern Super League schedule is also available at NSL.ca/schedule
Sports
Toronto Tempo Reveal 2026 Inaugural Season Schedule With Coast-to-Coast Home Games
The Toronto Tempo have officially released their 2026 inaugural season schedule, setting the stage for the franchise’s first year in the WNBA. The season tips off at home on Friday, May 8, with a matchup against the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Tempo will play a full 44-game regular season, split evenly between home and road games. Fans across Canada will get a chance to see the team in action, with 22 home games spread across four venues. Toronto will host the majority of those games, with 15 dates at Coca-Cola Coliseum and three games at Scotiabank Arena. The team will take its home court on the road as well, playing two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre and two at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Each opponent will face the Tempo at least three times during the season. The home schedule leans fan-friendly, with 14 weekend games and eight weekday matchups. A nine-game homestand from June 25 to July 20 marks the longest stretch at home. League-wide action pauses for the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago on July 24 and 25, followed by a longer break from August 31 to September 14 for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
General manager Monica Wright Rogers called the schedule release a major step for the franchise. She said the inaugural season will reflect the energy and competitive edge Toronto fans have been waiting for, and that the team looks forward to creating memorable moments across the league.
Founding partners CIBC and Sephora Canada will present the Tempo’s four home games outside Toronto. Montreal will host games in July against the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty. Vancouver will welcome the team in August for matchups with the Portland Fire and Las Vegas Aces.
Several marquee games headline the home slate. Three matchups at Scotiabank Arena feature the Phoenix Mercury on June 27, the Minnesota Lynx on July 30, and the Indiana Fever on August 18. Expansion rival Portland Fire visits Toronto on May 23, then meets the Tempo again at Rogers Arena on August 21. The Golden State Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team, arrive at Coca-Cola Coliseum on July 8. Defending champions Las Vegas Aces face the Tempo twice, once in Toronto on July 20 and again in Vancouver on August 23.
The 2026 season will mark the Tempo’s first appearance in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase. The team will play six Cup games against Eastern Conference opponents, split evenly between home and road, from June 3 to 16. Each game counts toward the regular-season standings.
Momentum around the franchise continues to build. On December 11, 2025, the Tempo announced that inaugural season ticket memberships had sold out. Fans looking for single-game tickets can sign up for updates through the team’s website. Ticket alerts are available for both the Vancouver and Montreal games, giving fans nationwide a chance to be part of the Tempo’s first season on the floor.
For more information on the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season, please visit tempo.wnba.com.