Calgary Wild FC

Calgary Wild FC
FoundedMay 29, 2024 (May 29, 2024)
Stadium
ChairDeanna Zumwalt
CoachSinead McSharry (interim)
LeagueNorthern Super League
2025Regular season, 5th
Playoffs, DNQ
Websitecalgarywildfc.com

Calgary Wild FC is a professional women's soccer club based in Calgary, Alberta, that competes in the Northern Super League, a league at the top of the women's Canadian soccer pyramid.

History

In December 2022, it was announced that Calgary Foothills WFC secured the rights to establish a new franchise for the Northern Super League, which began play in 2025.[1][2][3] In May 2024, it was announced that the rights to the franchise had been transferred from the Foothills to a new ownership group.[4][5]

In May 2024, the club unveiled their name and branding, the first club in the league to do so.[6][7] The club's logo consists of an owl made in red and violet, colours referencing the Calgary sky, with the rivers and mountains that make up Calgary's landscape are represented, and a W above the owl's eyes, with its five points representing the Famous Five (a group of women who fought to have women recognized as persons under Canadian law) and the five nations of Treaty 7.[8][9] The Wild's mascot, announced in May 2025, is Echo the Owl.[10] The club plays out of McMahon Stadium, with no seating capacity restrictions.[11]

In September 2024, it was announced that the club would assume the operations of the ASA High Performance program, operating them as their academy.[12]

On April 16, 2025, the Wild played their first game, the inaugural game of the Northern Super League, a 1–0 loss to the Vancouver Rise.[13] The Wild played their first home game on May 11, 2025, drawing 0-0 with Ottawa Rapid FC in front of 8,556 fans.[14] The club finished the inaugural NSL season in fifth place with a total of 29 points.[15]

On January 8, 2026, the Wild announced the launch of the Wild FC Academy, set to begin in February 2026, featuring U18 and U23 Reserve programs under the newly-appointed Academy Director Kennedi Kiarash, with head coach Lydia Bedford saying “Creating a clear, accessible pathway for young players to develop in a high-performance environment is critical, and this academy allows us to support athletes as they progress toward the highest levels of the game.”[16]

On March 9, 2026, it was announced that Lydia Bedford had departed the club to become head coach of the England women's national under-23 football team, with Sinead McSharry being named as interim head coach of the Wild.[17][18]

Players and staff

Players

As of March 4, 2026[19]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  USA Katelin Talbert
2 DF  CAN Grace Stordy
4 FW  USA Jorian Baucom
5 DF  NZL Meikayla Moore
6 MF  PHI Jaclyn Sawicki ([A])
7 DF  CAN Caleigh Boeckx
8 MF  VEN Sonia O'Neill ([A])
9 FW  CAN Kathryn Harvey
10 MF  AFG Farkhunda Muhtaj ([A])
11 DF  CAN Tilly James
15 FW  AUS Kahli Johnson
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  CAN Jenaya Robertson
18 FW  CAN Serita Thurton
19 MF  WAL Keelyn Stewart ([A])
26 GK  CAN Sarah Keilty-Dilling
28 MF  USA Meggie Dougherty Howard
30 MF  WAL Taegan Stewart ([A])
44 DF  CAN Talia White
66 DF  VEN Michelle Romero
MF  USA Allie Hess
GK  CAN Mya Jones
GK  CAN Molly Race
  1. ^
    Counts as a domestic player as she also holds Canadian nationality

Current staff

As of October 25, 2024[20]
Executive
Board Chair Deanna Zumwalt
Chief Executive Officer Lara Murphy
Sporting Director Alix Bruch
Coaching staff
Head coach Lydia Bedford
Assistant coach Sinead McSharry

Colours and uniform

The home kit is primarily purple, with the secondary red logo and numbers. The deep purple is a symbol of ambition and power, and the red is a reference to the city of Calgary.[21]

Supporters

The main fan organization for the Calgary Wild is the Wild Roses Supporters Group.[22] Beginning in May 2025, and driven by Wild goalkeeper Sarah Keilty-Dilling, the club launched the Keeper's Corner initiative, in partnership with KidSport Calgary and Ian Bazalgette Junior High School, which gave tickets to youth and their families from "underserved communities" and created a dedicated space for them during home games in Section W of McMahon Stadium.[23][24][25][26][10]

References

  1. ^ "Calgary, Vancouver first teams announced in new women's pro soccer league". Global News. December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Kepke, Cami (December 17, 2022). "Calgary Foothills, Project 8 outline next steps for professional women's soccer league". Global News.
  3. ^ "Calgary Foothills Soccer Club joins first Canadian women's professional league". Calgary Wild FC. December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "Calgary Wild FC reveal branding for inaugural Northern Super League season". Canadian Soccer Daily. May 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "Calgary Wild FC unveiled as Calgary's first-ever professional women's soccer club". Calgary Wild FC. May 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Kim, David (May 31, 2024). "Calgary Wild: All-women's professional soccer team launched in the city". Calgary Journal.
  7. ^ Saelhof, Todd (May 30, 2024). "'It means so much': Wild FC arrives to give women chance to play pro soccer in Calgary". Calgary Herald.
  8. ^ Sherif, Omar (May 31, 2024). "Calgary's newest pro sports team could change the landscape for women's soccer in the city". CBC News.
  9. ^ Kalinowski, Tim (May 30, 2024). "Calgary Wild FC brings professional women's soccer to Alberta". Lakeland Today.
  10. ^ a b "Calgary Wild FC Goalkeepers Launch "Keepers Corner" for Students to Attend Home Games". Calgary Wild FC. May 10, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  11. ^ Woldu, Moses (May 30, 2024). "Calgary has unveiled a new professional women's soccer team". Global News.
  12. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (September 20, 2024). "ASA High Performance Becomes Calgary Wild Academy". Northern Tribune.
  13. ^ "Quinn's landmark goal helps Vancouver Rise top Calgary Wild in Northern Super League's inaugural match". CBC. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "Calgary Wild FC savours historic match to kick off women's pro soccer in city". calgaryherald. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  15. ^ "Final Chapter Ends in 2-1 Victory for Calgary Wild FC". Calgary Wild FC. October 17, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  16. ^ "Calgary Wild FC Launches Wild FC Academy with Kennedi Kiarash as Academy Director". Calgary Wild FC. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  17. ^ "Calgary Wild FC Announces Personnel Changes Ahead of 2026 Season". OurSports Central. March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  18. ^ Rhode, Mackenzie (March 9, 2026). "Calgary Wild head coach Lydia Bedford leaves after one season with the club". Calgary Sun. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  19. ^ "The roster". Calgary Wild FC. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  20. ^ Spencer, Donna (October 23, 2024). "Calgary Wild FC women's pro soccer team announces its leaders". CBC Sports.
  21. ^ Valji, Salim (March 20, 2025). "Salim Valji: Calgary's Wild FC unveil kit ahead of Northern Super League opener". TSN.
  22. ^ "Calgary Wild FC 'Watch Party' helps to kick off inaugural Northern Super League match". Calgary Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  23. ^ "Calgary Wild FC and Direct Energy Power a Debut Season Full of Saves and Impact". Calgary Wild FC. November 10, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  24. ^ Said, Amir (May 11, 2025). "Calgary Wild bring in Forest Lawn students for club's first home game on Sunday". CBC. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  25. ^ "Calgary Wild FC launches new 'Keepers Corner' program at local school". CityNews. May 9, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  26. ^ Toombs, Aryn (May 9, 2025). "Former PE teacher puts Ian Bazalgette students into Calgary Wild FC Keepers Corner". LiveWire Calgary. Retrieved February 13, 2026.