The trailblazer | Diana Matheson
Diana Matheson already made a name for herself on the pitch — scoring the bronze medal-winning goal for Canada at the 2012 Olympics (marking the country’s first medal in a summer team sport since 1936) and snagging another bronze at the 2016 Olympics before retiring in 2021. But this year, she made a name for herself off of it: she’s behind the launch of Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, set to kick off in 2025. For aspiring female soccer players in Canada, the lack of a professional league here has driven many players to the U.S. or European professional leagues, or out of the sport altogether. Matheson’s innovation will change that forever, providing players an opportunity to become the best in the world right at home. So far, there are three founding teams associated with the league, including A.F.C. Toronto City.
By Christine Sinclair – Friend and former teammate, Olympian, record goalscorer
Dee and I started on the national team around the same time, and we’ve been friends ever since. Our teams were predicated on physicality, big strong athletes, but at barely over five feet, Dee still brought it. She’s carried that right along post-soccer: she’s a Princeton grad, she got an MBA, and it’s really cool to see her bring to life the advocacy she talked about during her playing days: bringing a professional women’s league to Canada. I don’t think there’s anyone better than Dee to lead this. She’s the smartest person I know. Sitting in the stands and watching the 1999 Women’s World Cup inspired me to think playing soccer professionally was possible. It’s amazing to see Dee spearhead the creation of a similar moment with this new league. We’ll be inspiring kids across the country. Dee deserves all the recognition for all she does to empower the next generation of female athletes through Project 8, and for the past and current generations, she’s galvanizing us to help drive the sport forward and leave it in a better place than we found it. Dee is a positive inspiration to so many young girls to fight for equality and what they believe in. I think there will be a lot of “thank yous” in order for how she’s paved the way for a women’s professional league in Canada.
For more of Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2023, click here.
