Veteran midfielder Scott puts off retirement to help NSL launch, signs with Ottawa

Canada's Desiree Scott celebrates at the end of a women's soccer match against Chile at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. Canada won 2-1. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

OTTAWA — Desiree Scott thought retirement from professional soccer sounded good, but her passion for the game and her desire to contribute to its growth in Canada put an end to those plans.

Ottawa Rapid FC announced Tuesday they have signed Scott for the inaugural season of the Northern Super League, a new Canadian women’s professional soccer league set to kick off this spring.

Scott, 37, who spent the last four seasons with the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League, had announced her plans for retirement at the end of the season in October.

Scott is the Rapid FC’s seventh player to sign, but the biggest name and, so far, the only one with national team experience. And it’s considerable experience, with the Winnipeg midfielder representing Canada at four Olympics and helping the team to gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Scott, known as “The Destroyer,” figured she would be involved with the NSL in some way in its first season. She asked the Rapid for time to consider her options, and their willingness to provide her the space and time had an impact on her decision to sign with the club.

Former national teammates share a group chat, and Scott said they were discussing ways to could be involved and help make the fledgling league a success.

“So, my involvement in the league was inevitable, but in what role and then obviously the option of potentially playing I was like, hmm,” Scott said. “I was on the tail end of wrapping things up in Kansas City and my retirement there and I was like do I still have what it takes?”

The decision took time and Scott wanted to make sure she could still contribute at the high level she was used to, but ultimately felt she wanted to take on this challenge.

Rapid FC technical director Kristina Kiss said getting the phone call from Scott was a special moment. Kiss, who grew up in Ottawa and represented Canada internationally, knows how deep soccer runs in the nation’s capital.

“I remember the day that Dee called me and said this was happening in Ottawa and I was so excited because we had talked maybe a year earlier and we weren’t sure if Ottawa would have a team or not,” recalled Kiss. “It’s been an amazing process. It’s been really fantastic to see how everything’s evolving and growing and now to have a player like Desi come in and join our team. It’s just wonderful.”

Scott is excited to get back on the pitch and be part of something special, not only in Ottawa, but for the game nationally.

“Tender age of 37, but I still have a lot of burn left in me,” said Scott. “I have a lot of passion for this game. I have so much desire to continue to put Canada on the map, and now we have a pathway from grassroots all the way to pro.”

Scott spoke about the growth women’s sports is having, not only in Canada, but globally. She spoke of the success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and how it have found its place on the sports landscape.

“What you can see, you can be,” she said. “I’m a firm believer in that. I mean, Canada is a soccer nation as much as they are hockey so I’m hoping that, you know, this league is just as successful.”

Scott’s career is storied. With 187 caps for Canada, she played a pivotal role in the country’s ascent to becoming a global soccer powerhouse. She is one of only three soccer players to win three consecutive Olympic medals (gold 2021, bronze 2012 and 2016).

Other players who have recently signed with Rapid FC include Ottawa native Emily Amano, Miranda Smith, Liv Scott, Melanie Forbes, Julia Benati and Florence Belzille.

The inaugural season will feature six clubs including Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto, Montreal Roses FC, Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC and the Halifax Tides FC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2025.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press