Originally By Kimberly Rio Wertman

For Diana Matheson, all goals – whether on or off the soccer pitch – are achievable with enough determination.

The former Canadian soccer player, known best for scoring the game-winning goal at the London 2012 Olympics, presented a screening of her documentary “The Pitch” at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Wednesday.

The film follows Matheson and other soccer players’ efforts to establish Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL), following years of what they call ‘systematic neglect.’

It also highlights the importance of investing in opportunities for women.

“There’s an incredible moment right now to build the business of women’s sports,” explained Matheson. “It’s really the first time in history that women’s sport has been treated like a business. We all grew up in a time when there were myths and biases around women’s sport. ‘No one watches women’s sport. Women’s sport doesn’t make money,’ and there was no data to disprove it. Now there is, and women’s pro sport is the fastest growing area of sport.”

Now with the NSL in full swing, having launched its inaugural season last year with six teams on the books across the nation, Matheson said it’s time for Winnipeg to get its own franchise.

“I think this would be a fantastic place to build. I mean, this is a city where the community brought the Jets back to town, and now it’s time for that community to bring women’s soccer here,” said Matheson.

The soccer player was also joined at the screening by her former national teammate and soccer legend, Winnipeg’s own Desiree Scott. She believes her hometown could be the perfect spot for an expansion team.

“I think one, we’re looking central or west for that expansion team, and I think, ‘why not Winnipeg?’ You know, there’s no professional team from Toronto to Minnesota to Calgary. The next thing could be Winnipeg, and I think there’s so much untapped potential here in the city, not only what’s within the community, but the soccer players and the people who want to invest and grow the game here. So I’m pushing for (2027) in Winnipeg, for sure,” said Scott.

Matheson said Winnipeggers’ reaction to the screening was very positive and could be a barometer for the city’s appetite for its own team to cheer for.

“I think there was over 500 people there last night, so fantastic response. You know, Winnipeg, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about women’s pro soccer and women’s pro sport, but I can tell you, there’s the opportunity here to be one of the best women’s soccer cities in the world,” Matheson said.

For those who are interested in supporting the endeavor, Matheson has started a petition to bring a soccer team to the province.

“We’re sending that to government officials just to show that the community is behind us, because this team does not happen without the community wrapping their arms around it,” said Matheson.