Ottawa’s new professional women’s Soccer team has announced its biggest catch since the team’s inception. CF Rapide has signed three-time Olympic medalist Desiree Scott.
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Scott competed in the Olympic Games in London in 2012 (bronze), Rio in 2016 (bronze) and Tokyo in 2021 (gold).
The arrival of professional soccer in Canada – the country I was fortunate to represent for so many years – is an accomplishment we have all fought for and waited for. It’s incredibly exciting to be a part of this league and join Ottawa for its inaugural season
said Desiree Scott.
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Desiree Scott wrestles against her Canadian teammate, Vanessa Gilles of Ottawa, during an NWSL match. (Archive photo)
Photo : Getty Images / Katharine Lotze / Angel City FC
The 37-year-old midfielder is therefore putting aside the idea of retiring, having announced that she wanted to hang up her boots at the end of her last season with the Current of Kansas City in the NWSL.
My goal is to continue to grow the game, inspire the people around me and help build this league alongside incredible teammates and friends like Diana Matheson, Steph Labbé and Christine Sinclair. We’ve been talking about the need for a professional league for Canadian athletes for a long time, and seeing it come to fruition is truly a dream come true
continued the player.
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Desiree Scott shows off her gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics upon arrival at Winnipeg Airport, 2021. (File photo)
Photo : - / Jill Coubrough
Scott played 10 seasons in the NWSL between 2013 and 2024 and reached the plateau of 10,000 minutes of play played in 2022 while she was captain of her team.
With her wealth of experience, exceptional leadership and extraordinary abilities on the field, Desiree embodies the qualities that will elevate us both on and off the field
said CF Rapide technical director Kristina Kiss.
Nicknamed The Destroyer
Scott is one of the founding members of the Current of Kansas City in the NWSL. She played in the first stadium built specifically for a professional women’s sports team, CPKC Stadium, which opened in 2021.
Before joining the Currentshe notably wore the colors of Royals of Utah, of Notts County in England and Whitecaps from Vancouver
Scott is the seventh player to be announced by the team. The club has so far signed with Miranda Smith, Liv Scott, Emily Amano, Florence Belzile, Melanie Forbes and Julia Benati.
