For most elite athletes, retirement signals a time to slow down. For Canadian soccer legend Diana Matheson, it marked the beginning of her most ambitious play yet: building a professional women's soccer league from the ground up.
From the Pitch to the Boardroom
After a celebrated 17-year career with the Canadian national team, culminating in her retirement announcement in July 2021, Matheson immediately pivoted to a mammoth new challenge. Her mission was to establish the Northern Super League (NSL), Canada's first professional women's soccer league.
This incredible journey is now captured in the new documentary The Pitch, directed by Michèle Hozer. The film, which toured Canadian film festivals this fall, made its digital debut on November 9, 2025, on TVO's platforms. It is scheduled to broadcast on TSN and RDS in spring 2026.
The Driving Force Behind the League
In the documentary, Matheson explains her powerful dual motivation. From a sporting perspective, she states the league is essential for Canada to continue competing at the international level. "The rest of the world has been investing in their women’s pro leagues," Matheson notes. "Unless we started to build in Canada, it was only a matter of time until we got left behind."
On the business side, she saw a undeniable opportunity. Women's pro sports is the fastest growing area of sports, and Canada possesses one of the world's largest player pools and most dedicated fan bases for women's sport.
Overcoming Doubt and Building a Legacy
Filmed over two years, The Pitch doesn't shy away from the immense challenges Matheson faced. As an independent project built "for women, by women," the path was filled with uncertainty and doubters. However, Matheson's athlete mindset became her greatest asset.
"As a player, I brought the importance of having a clear vision and aligning people with one goal," she reflects. The documentary showcases the stress, hustle, and ultimate victories behind creating a national sports league.
Director Michèle Hozer was drawn to the project precisely because of its powerful narrative. Recruited by her high school friend, sports industry veteran Nathalie Cook, Hozer understood the significance of telling a story about women breaking barriers in sports.
The early feedback on the NSL has been overwhelmingly positive. Players have reportedly been "pleasantly, consistently surprised with the quality of play, facilities, and people behind this project," especially for a debut league. For fans, the impact is already being felt, with Canadian women, girls, and men sharing how the league has inspired them.
