Winnipeg will join the Northern Super League as its seventh franchise in 2027, the league announced Monday.
The club is co-founded by former Canadian women's national team player Desiree Scott and Rob Gale, a former Canada Soccer youth national team coach who most recently served as head coach of the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League.
Scott, a four-time Olympian and Olympic gold medallist, will serve as vice-president of community and player experience, while Gale will take over as chief sporting officer.
"It is an honour to bring professional women's soccer of this calibre to Winnipeg and to join a trailblazing organization like the Northern Super League," Scott said in a statement.
“As a former player, I know exactly what an elite sporting environment looks like and what athletes need to succeed. We are building a club rooted in the community, backed by a premier development pathway, and ready to compete from our very first whistle in 2027."
The club's name, crest and home venue will be announced at a later date.
The Northern Super League launched in 2025 with founding clubs in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
Winnipeg will become the league's first expansion franchise.
NSL president Christina Litz told CBC Sports that the league wants to have eight teams by 2028.
“We know what impact having a pro women's team has on inspiring the next-gen players and we have said from the beginning that we want our league to be a catalyst for Canadian talent across the country.”
Earlier this month, an international firm invested $30 million CAD into the league, which was founded by Canadian soccer great Diana Matheson.
--with files from Sportsnet
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