CANADA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Richard McLaren and Janie Soublière, McLaren Global Sports Solutions
In a short period, Canada has moved from having no domestic professional women’s teams to having a successful and interconnected network. The scale of this growth has made Canadian women’s sport increasingly attractive to sponsors and investors, particularly those seeking early entry and long-term influence. The growth of professional women’s sport in Canada is of course driven by the continued development of women’s sports worldwide, with many Canadian teams competing in women’s professional leagues. This includes the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which after a successful inaugural 2025 season has seen rapid growth. It currently has eight teams, four of which are Canadian, and is explor - ing expansion into Quebec City. Women’s professional basketball has also expanded in Canada. In May 2026, the Toronto Tempo will become the first Canadian team to compete in the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA). This development has already generated Canada-based franchise acquisition and financing work for law firms, with Toronto firms advis - ing on the team’s ownership and capital structure. It is noteworthy that, at the time of the publication of this article, and after over a year of tumultuous nego - tiations, the WNBA and the players’ union have come to a verbal agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement set to redefine the economic and governing rules of the WNBA. The terms of the anticipated CBA include an increased salary cap and an increased minimum salary. Players will also receive and share 20% of gross league and team revenue, and be allowed to be true unrestricted free agents early in their career without their incumbent team con - trolling their negotiating rights. Exciting times for the WNBA and the sports lawyers that advise them. Canada is also leading its own charge by way of the creation of its own professional leagues, notably the Northern Super League (NSL), the premier profes - sional women’s soccer league (football to non-North Americans), which currently has six teams. Northern Super League (NSL): Pro Women’s Soccer in Canada self-proclaims that “ we are the first and only profes - sional women’s soccer league in Canada. The NSL isn’t bound by legacy – we’re here to create one. One
that is rooted in access, equity, and excellence. One that invites every player, fan, and community to shape the future of the game. ” The NSL seeks to build some - thing the next generation can believe in. It is indeed off to a ceiling-smashing success with nation-wide support. To wit, although the Canadian government generally does not fund private professional leagues, in Novem - ber 2025 it announced plans to invest up to CAD5.45 million to support the NSL and its related infrastruc - ture. The stated objectives included strengthening local economies, enhancing community engagement and positioning Canada as a leader in women’s pro - fessional sport. From a commercial rights perspective, the NSL’s early media strategy reflects the growing sophistication of women’s professional leagues in Canada. The league announced multi-year media partnerships with Bell Media and CBC/Radio-Canada to support national access and long-term viability. It also entered into a multi-year agreement with ESPN to bring matches to US audiences, expanding both cross-border exposure and commercial reach. Overall, the rapid growth of women’s professional team sports in Canada is increasingly visible across the professional services ecosystem, creating multiple and varied opportunities for legal professionals. Sport Integrity Canada has officially replaced the Office of the Sporting Integrity Commissioner and SDRCC On 1 April 2025, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) assumed responsibility for developing and implementing a new national-level safe sport pro - gramme in Canada. Considering this new mandate, the CCES reviewed its strategic plan and its organi - sational strategy and structure, and in the process decided to change its name to Sport Integrity Canada. Through the Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP), Sport Integrity Canada receives and responds to reports of prohibited behaviour under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreat - ment in Sport (UCCMS) committed by individuals who are part of national, federally funded sport organisa -
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