As we approach a milestone season for women’s Pro-Am soccer, more than 30 former League1 Canada players have been called up to international duty.

The first season of the League1 Ontario Women’s Division took place in 2015, and after a cancelled season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this coming campaign will be the historic 10th.

In the last decade, women’s Pro-Am soccer has grown from Ontario to Québec, British Columbia, and Alberta, and several players have come through the ranks to earn national team selection.

CANWNT

Canada are competing in the Pinatar Cup in February, kicking off against China on Wednesday 19 before taking on Mexico and Chinese Taipei. One of these matches could include a debut for NDC Ontario’s Ella Ottey.

The defender played twice in the 2024 League1 Ontario season after nine games the year before, and 11 in 2022. She will link up with former teammate Jade Rose who was also selected in Casey Stoney’s first national team squad.

Former Unionville Milliken star Samantha Chang also returns to the squad after making her first and only CANWNT appearance in 2021. She comes in fresh from signing for Vancouver Rise in the Northern Super League.

Emma Regan, a League1 BC regular-season champion with Varsity in 2022, joins Chang in the midfield options. They will be lining up on opposite sides of the pitch come April, however, with Regan on the books at the NSL’s AFC Toronto.

Defenders Gabrielle Carle (L1QC) and Vanessa Gilles (L1ON) would have been some of the first names in the squad, along with former North Toronto starlet Olivia Smith who is impressing with English giants Liverpool.

Forwards Clarissa Larisey and Nyah Rose are also back in the Canada squad; both have League1 Ontario experience.

Former FC Laval goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx could also add to her two CANWNT appearances, while Evelyne Viens, who had a prolific spell in Ligue1 Québec in 2018 and 2019, also returns.

CANW20

The CANW20 squad are also returning to action from February 20 for Concacaf Women’s U20 Qualifiers – a tournament that will fill the last six spots in this year’s championship.

Every player in the squad has played, or been a substitute, in League1 Canada competition across Ontario, British Columbia, or Québec, with at least five players hailing from each of the three provinces.

Here’s a breakdown of who has played where:

League1 BC
Iba Oching
Sienna Gibson
Jeneva Hernandez Gray
Kierra Blundell
Kaylee Hunter
Keira Martin

Ligue1 Québec
Inès Nourani
Janet Okeke
Juliette Perreault
Natelle El Mokbel
Léa Larouche

League1 Ontario
Sofia Cortes-Browne
Olivia Busby
Noelle Henning
Jadea Collin
April Lantaigne
Stephanie Schoeley
Ava Greco
Ella Kettles
Teegan Melenhorst
Annabelle Chukwu