The Sudbury Canadians, a local women?s team, will be joining the W League, the second-highest level of play in North America, on a one-year trial basis, according to head coach Frank Malvaso.
Only the United States Professional Women?s Soccer League has more prominence.
Sudbury will become one of only four Canadian teams in the U.S.-dominated 36-team league. The other Canadian clubs are the Vancouver Breakers and northern division rivals Ottawa Fury and Toronto Inferno.
Malvaso said he believes Sudbury needs to prove three things to remove the ?trial basis? label from their club.
They need to prove that this town belongs with cities like New York and Chicago in the league, they have to come up with a viable business plan and prove the community is behind it, and show they can be competitive in the W League.
Since soccer has become the number one participation sport in North America and the national women?s team is ranked higher than the men's, Malvaso said it will be possible to sell soccer to Sudbury.
