Nanaimo's Jazmine Wilkinson will head to the nation's capital by the end of the month, joining up with the brand new Ottawa Rapids FC in the National Super League. (Harbourside FC)

By Alex Rawnsley

big step forward

Nanaimo player inks contract for new national women’s professional soccer league

Jan 28, 2025 | 9:32 AM

NANAIMO — The Harbour City’s Jazmine Wilkinson is taking her talents to the nation’s capital as part of a new pro league’s inaugural season.

After wrapping her collegiate career at Texas A&M in the NCAA, Wilkinson will suit up this year for Ottawa Rapids FC, one of the six teams in the new professional women’s Northern Super League.

Wilkinson has also spent the last two summers at home, leading her hometown Harbourside FC offence and proving a dominant force in League1 BC.

“It didn’t take long for me to [sign for Ottawa], I loved what they had to offer and had to bring to this league, what they wanted for the team…and women’s soccer in Canada. It was an easy decision and it’s an opportunity you don’t pass up to play in Canada, it’s something I’ve wanted since I was a little girl.”

Six teams will contest the league’s first season, with Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver joining Ottawa.

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Regular season play is expected in mid-April, although a full schedule hasn’t been released yet.

Wilkinson is moving east at the end of January ahead of her reporting day to the club on Feb. 5. Early conversations with team staff suggest she’ll be busy upon arrival.

“They see me as someone who will impact on and off the field. For me as a player, it’s my goal to play as much as I can and help the team in that way, but it was also a conversation on how to grow the sport off the field as well and that support system around the NSL, I think it’s almost just important as on field stuff.”

Wilkinson typically played as a striker of attacking central midfielder during her time with Harbourside. (Harbourside FC)

Her role on the team is still up in the air.

A natural striker and attacking midfielder, Wilkinson told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s versatile and eager to complement the roster, which includes Canadian national team stalwart and Olympic gold medallist Desiree Scott.

“I don’t know too much about the other players, the style of play, it’ll be an experiment once we get there. My style of play is almost like a False Nine, a false striker, so I do like to drop off the ball just as much as going forward.”

Ottawa Rapids FC are co-owned by league founder, and former national team member, Diana Matheson.

Wilkinson said her time over the last two years at Texas A&M and with Harbourside helped her develop as a player.

The League1 BC program is partially responsible, Wilkinson believes, for helping produce more homegrown talent.

“It was an awesome thing to have just to keep my level of fitness up, but just to get to know people in the community and grow the game in B.C. It’s taken a huge leap with lots more talent coming out of B.C., lots more signings have signed to NSL clubs…having that other pathway to lead to more talent coming out of Canada is huge.”

Wilkinson was a focal point for Harbourside FC’s offence over the last two seasons. (Harbourside FC)

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