The idea of a Canadian women91裸聊视频檚 professional league was simple, albeit rife with challenges, including coming up with the right name.

On Tuesday, Project 8 turned into the Northern Super League with Ottawa and Montreal joining Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax as the founding franchises slated to kick off in April 2025.

Former Canadian international Diana Matheson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Project 8 along with Thomas Gilbert, unveiled the name and other details about the new league in a speech to the espnW Summit Canada on Tuesday.

Choosing the right name proved to be anything but easy.

91裸聊视频淔or me, it was very difficult,91裸聊视频� Matheson said in an interview. 91裸聊视频淯s in the Project 8 office, every spare probably 20 minutes we had over the first 18 months we would just brainstorm on our own 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频楬ey, what should the league name be?91裸聊视频� And never came up with anything good.91裸聊视频�

So they turned to professionals, with Canadian creative agency Broken Heart Love Affair providing the brand and aurora borealis logo.

91裸聊视频淭hey came up with something that I really, really love,91裸聊视频� said Matheson. 91裸聊视频淪o I hope Canadians do too.91裸聊视频�

The decision was made not to include women in the league title, even though 91裸聊视频渨e are very proudly building for women and by women,91裸聊视频� said Matheson.

91裸聊视频淲e landed on not including it, because at the end of the day what we are building here is going to be an internationally competitive professional soccer league, period,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淎nd I think the women91裸聊视频檚 soccer part of that will speak for itself once we get up and rolling.91裸聊视频�

While there is plenty more work to be done before the first ball is kicked, the new league now has a framework to work off.

91裸聊视频淚 like the runway we have, especially with the group of people we have, 91裸聊视频� There91裸聊视频檚 a very collaborative approach to building this league from every ownership group,91裸聊视频� said Matheson, who won 206 caps for Canada between 2003 and 2020.

The addition of Ottawa and Montreal fleshes out the initial team roster, bringing the number of franchises to six 91裸聊视频� the minimum required for Canada Soccer sanctioning.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 huge,91裸聊视频� said Matheson. 91裸聊视频淎t the end of the day, we91裸聊视频檙e in six of the biggest markets across Canada, which we91裸聊视频檙e thrilled about. Ottawa, Montreal specifically have huge girls91裸聊视频� and women91裸聊视频檚 soccer communities.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e happy with the representation we have from (the) West Coast to the Maritimes, in Quebec,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just the beginning. We91裸聊视频檒l, of course, still be looking to roll our expansion plans in the next year and talk about when we91裸聊视频檙e adding teams (No.) 7 and 8. But we91裸聊视频檙e really happy with the six teams we91裸聊视频檙e launching with.91裸聊视频�

The Montreal franchise will be spearheaded by Quebec91裸聊视频檚 Isab猫le Chevalier and Jean-Fran莽ois Crevier, who are putting together a group of investors from the business, sports and arts communities.

Ottawa has yet to announce its details.

The new league is owned equally by the clubs, with Matheson91裸聊视频檚 group also holding an ownership share.

Each team will play a 25-game regular-season schedule, facing the other clubs five times. The top four sides will make the post-season with No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 taking on No. 3 in two-legged semifinals, following by a stand-alone championship game.

The league is looking at a $1.5-million initial salary cap for each team, covering rosters numbering 20 to 25. There will be an additional cap on player benefits such as housing and transportation.

Franchises will be allowed up to seven foreign players. The league also allows teams one marquee player, for whom only $75,000 of their salary will count against the cap.

The league91裸聊视频檚 founding corporate partners 91裸聊视频� Canadian Tire, DoorDash, CIBC and Air Canada 91裸聊视频� were previously announced.

91裸聊视频淐ongratulations to everyone involved in the exciting evolution of the newly named Northern Super League,91裸聊视频� Kevin Blue, Canada91裸聊视频檚 Soccer91裸聊视频檚 CEO and general secretary, said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淐anada Soccer remains steadfast in its support for professional women91裸聊视频檚 soccer in our country, and we will continue to work alongside Diana and the staff to ensure a successful kickoff next April.91裸聊视频�

The governing body, at its recent annual general meeting, approved increases in player registration fees starting in 2025, with a portion going to the new league.

Matheson says it will receive $1 million annually, matching what the governing body has given the men91裸聊视频檚 Canadian Premier League.

91裸聊视频淭he expectation has always been between ourselves and Canada Soccer that Canada Soccer would do the same,91裸聊视频� said Matheson, calling it a 91裸聊视频渟ymbol of support.91裸聊视频�

And a sign of equity.

An announcement on the Northern Super League91裸聊视频檚 leadership is expected in June, which should shed more light on what role Matheson and Gilbert will take.

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