Ottawa Rapid FC signs ‘The Destroyer’ in preparation for Northern Super League season debut

Ottawa Rapid FC will call TD Place home and have Desiree Scott as its centrepiece.

Published Jan 14, 2025 • 3 minute read

Desiree Scott celebrates at the end of a women’s soccer match against Chile at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she helped Canada to a gold medal. Scott was also part of Canadian teams that won bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. Photo by Silvia Izquierdo /APFor the past 13 years, Desiree Scott has proudly answered to the nickname “The Destroyer”, but the newest member of Ottawa Rapid FC could also be called “The Builder”.

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Check out the resumé the 37-year-old Winnipegger brings to the nation’s capital and Ottawa’s entry in the new Northern Super League:

Scott is one of the founding members of the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League and played in the world’s first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team (CPKC Stadium) in 2021; As a member of FC Kansas City in 2013, Scott started in the first-ever NWSL match on April 13 of that year, at Shawnee Mission District Stadium against the Portland Thorns; She played 10 seasons in the NWSL, until 2024, and, as captain of the Current, she reached an important milestone in 2022, becoming the second Canadian in league history to log 10,000 career minutes; A four-time Olympian, Scott earned a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, making her one of only three players to win three consecutive Olympic medals.

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The moniker “The Destroyer” was given to Scott by former women’s national team coach John Herdman for her gritty and aggressive tackling as a midfielder.

Desiree Scott loves being called The Destroyer. ‘It kind of makes you feel like a superhero,’ she told TSN last year. Photo by Audrey Magny /HandoutScott has worn it like a badge of honour.

“I loved it from the jump,” she said in a TSN interview last year. “I think there are few soccer players that have an ingrained nickname. It kind of makes you feel like a superhero … like I can put on my cape and get out there and just tackle some people.”

After retiring from the Current in 2024, the superhero will now wear the light blue and neon orange colours of Rapid FC as it becomes part of an all-Canadian professional women’s league set to start up in April.

The league is owned and operated by Project 8 Sports Inc., an entity co-founded by former Canada women’s national soccer team player Diana Matheson.

The other five clubs are Halifax Tides FC, Montreal Roses FC, AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild FC and Vancouver Rise FC.

Clubs will play 25 matches during the season, or each club five times.

The top four clubs will advance to the two-legged semifinals, with the winners advancing to a single championship match.

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Rapid FC will call TD Place home and have Scott as its centrepiece.

“With her wealth of experience, exceptional leadership and extraordinary on-field abilities, Desiree embodies the qualities that will elevate us both on and off the field,” said Kristina Kiss, Ottawa Rapid FC technical director. “Her ability to read the game and guide her teammates is a rare and invaluable asset, and we’re confident that her presence will inspire our players to reach new heights. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly have, both as a leader and as a cornerstone of our midfield.”

Scott is the seventh player to be announced by Rapid FC.

Since Jan. 6, the club has revealed the signings of six other players: Miranda Smith, Liv Scott, Emily Amano, Florence Belzile, Melanie Forbes and Julia Benati.

“Having professional soccer come to Canada — the country I’ve been so fortunate to represent for so many years — is something we’ve all been fighting and waiting for,” said Scott. “It’s incredibly exciting to be part of this league and to join Ottawa in its inaugural season.

“My goal is to continue growing the game, inspiring those around me, and helping to build this league alongside incredible teammates and friends like Diana Matheson, Steph Labbé and Christine Sinclair. We’ve long talked about the need for a professional league for Canadian athletes, and seeing it come to life is truly a dream come true.”

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