We Speak Soccer

Ontario Backs the 2026 NSL Final in Ottawa With $180,000 Investment

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

An AFC Toronto player beats Ottawa Rapid FC goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais to score at TD Place in Ottawa during the NSL playoffs

The Northern Super League Final gets a provincial boost: Ontario is investing $180,000 in Saturday’s championship at TD Place in Ottawa, where the 2026 NSL champion will lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup in front of a national broadcast audience.

The Northern Super League (NSL) today announced funding support from the Government of Ontario for the 2026 NSL Final, presented by BMO, taking place Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET at TD Place in Ottawa.

The Government of Ontario is supporting this year’s Final with an investment of $180,000, strengthening Ontario’s position as a premier destination for world-class sporting events while supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.

Now in its second season, Canada’s professional women’s soccer league will bring its second championship Final to the nation’s capital, where two finalists will compete for the Diana B. Matheson Cup. The event will welcome fans from across Ontario and Canada, bringing visitors to Ottawa and creating opportunities for local businesses while showcasing women’s professional sport on a national stage.

Founded by former Canadian Women’s National Team player Diana Matheson, the NSL brings together six clubs from coast to coast: Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC, AFC Toronto, Ottawa Rapid FC, Montréal Roses FC and Halifax Tides FC. The league also announced its seventh club, Winnipeg Ember, which will take the pitch in 2027. In its second season, the league continues to build audiences, deepen community connections and create professional opportunities for players to pursue their careers at home. National coverage on TSN, CBC, Radio-Canada and RDS, alongside streaming on partner platforms and the NSL YouTube channel, connects fans across the country with the competition and its athletes.

“The Northern Super League is creating new opportunities for women in professional sport, while inspiring the next generation of athletes,” said Brian Saunderson, Minister of Sport. “By helping bring major sporting events like this championship to Ontario, we’re showcasing the talent of our athletes, giving fans the chance to experience world-class competition and showing young girls across the country that a future career in professional women’s soccer is possible, right here at home.”

“Our second season and second NSL Final represent another important step in building a lasting future for women’s professional soccer in Canada,” said Christina Litz, President of the Northern Super League. “We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for helping us bring this celebration to Ottawa. This investment brings people together, supports local businesses and gives more young players the chance to see a professional future for themselves here at home. We look forward to welcoming fans to TD Place on November 14 to help us crown our 2026 champion.”

Fans across Canada can watch the 2026 NSL Final, presented by BMO live on TSN, CBC and RDS, with US fans being able to watch on ESPN+ and international supporters able to tune in globally via NSL on YouTube. National broadcast coverage will be hosted by Kate McKenna, with acclaimed CBC Sports play-by-play announcer Signa Butler joined by Canadian Soccer Hall of Famer Amy Walsh in the commentary booth. Rob Pizzo will report from the sidelines, while Erin McLeod and Shireen Ahmed lead the studio panel. Pre-match coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS ahead of the 2:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

2026 NSL Final

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Venue: TD Place, Ottawa, Ontario
Tickets: NSL.ca/final
Broadcast: TSN, CBC, RDS, ESPN+ and NSL YouTube
Pre-show: 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS
Kick-off: 2:00 p.m. ET

For tickets and information about the 2026 NSL Final, presented by BMO, visit NSL.ca/Final.

About the Northern Super League

The Northern Super League is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, launched in 2025 with six clubs: Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montréal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC. The league will expand to Winnipeg in 2027, bringing its total to seven clubs. Grounded in global best practices, the NSL is designed for long-term growth, commercial sustainability and national impact. The league is committed to advancing Canadian excellence in sport while setting a new standard for equity, inclusion and professional women’s athletics. For more information, visit NSL.ca.

North Carolina Faces Virginia Sunday for the 2026 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship

Published

23 hours ago

November 14, 2026

We Speak Media

North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer players in white warmup tops laughing together on the field before a match at Dorrance Field

North Carolina chases a record 23rd ACC tournament title and Virginia chases its first since 2012 when the Tar Heels and Cavaliers meet Sunday at noon ET in Cary on ESPNU.

Second-seeded North Carolina and fifth-seeded Virginia will play for the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship Sunday at noon ET from First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will meet in the title match for the fifth time, with previous matchups in 1990, 2004, 2005 and 2019. North Carolina is 3-1 in those matchups, with UVA’s lone win coming in 2004. It will also be the first time since a No. 2 seed has faced a No. 5 seed in the final since 2012, when fifth-seeded Virginia defeated second-seeded Maryland, 4-0. That season was the last time the Cavaliers have won the ACC title.

UNC is in the ACC Championship final for the 30th time and seeks its record 23rd tournament title. The Tar Heels have dropped their last three final appearances (2020, 2022 and 2024) and have not won the ACC crown since defeating Virginia in the 2019 title match. UNC looks to become the first No. 2 seed since Florida State in 2022 to win the women’s soccer championship.

Virginia returns to the ACC title match for the first time since 2021, having won the championship twice (2004 and 2012). The Cavaliers have not allowed a goal in their last four matches and five of their last six contests. It marks the first time a team has advanced to the title match from the first round without allowing a goal since 2020.

Sunday’s final will be broadcast live on ESPNU at noon ET. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on game day and are available online only; no walk-up sales will be available.

2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship

First Round | Sunday, Nov. 8 – Campus Sites

#6 Duke 5, at #3 Wake Forest 4 (OT)
#5 Virginia 3, at #4 Florida State 0

Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 12 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

#5 Virginia 1, #1 Notre Dame 0
#2 North Carolina 1, #6 Duke 0

Final | Sunday, Nov. 15 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

#2 North Carolina vs. #5 Virginia | Noon | ESPNU
All times Eastern

Noting ACC Women’s Soccer

• The 40th season of ACC Women’s Soccer got underway on Wednesday, August 12, while the 39th Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship concludes Sunday, November 15, with the championship final from First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

• The ACC has seven teams in the latest IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Poll, the most of any conference.

• The poll includes No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 6 Wake Forest, No. 10 Virginia, No. 12 Duke, No. 16 Florida State and No. 16 Stanford (tie). Clemson and Virginia Tech are receiving votes.

• The ACC has eight teams ranked among the top 30 in the RPI, also the most of any conference.

• The RPI top 30 includes No. 1 North Carolina, No. 5 Wake Forest, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 11 Virginia, No. 13 Duke, No. 15 Stanford, No. 28 Florida State and No. 29 Clemson.

• Four ACC teams were named to the initial NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee Top 16, announced on Monday, October 26: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Wake Forest, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 11 Stanford.

• ACC teams have combined for 86 non-conference wins and a .801 winning percentage, both of which lead the nation.

• A total of 12 ACC standouts were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Mid-Season Watch List, the most among all conferences. The next-closest conference had six.

• Florida State earned the ACC’s 27th national championship (24th since the ACC began sponsoring women’s soccer) a season ago, bringing the total to 33 national championships among current ACC institutions. No school outside the ACC has won more than two championships.

• The Seminoles defeated Stanford, 1-0, in the 2025 national championship match, marking the second straight year that two ACC teams met for the national title and the third consecutive championship match featuring current ACC members.