Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
Ottawa Rapid FC Announce Signing of Four-Time Olympian Desiree Scott
OTTAWA – Ottawa Rapid FC announced Tuesday that they have signed Olympic gold medalist and 10-year National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) veteran Desiree Scott.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Scott is one of Canada’s most decorated soccer players, having represented Canada at four Olympic Games. She 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.
She has played 10 seasons in the NWSL (2013-2024). As captain of the Kansas City Current, she reached an important milestone in 2022, becoming the second Canadian in NWSL history to log 10,000 career minutes.
“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 Ottawa Rapid FC Technical Director Kristina Kiss. “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."
“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. It’s incredibly exciting to be part of this league and to join Ottawa in its inaugural season,” said Desiree Scott. “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.”
Nicknamed “The Destroyer,” Scott is one of the founding members of the Kansas City Current in the NWSL and played in the world’s first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team (CPKC Stadium), which opened in 2021. She represented the team for three seasons before closing the chapter on her NWSL career in 2024. Throughout her time with the Current, she was a pillar in the team’s growth. As captain in 2022, she helped lead the squad through one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NWSL history, becoming the first team to reach the NWSL Championship after finishing in last place the season prior.
Before joining the Current, Scott’s professional career included time with the Utah Royals (2018-2020), FC Kansas City (2013, 2016-2017), Notts County (2014-2015), and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2006, 2010-2012).
As a member of FC Kansas City in 2013, Scott started in the first-ever NWSL match, held on April 13, 2013, at Shawnee Mission District Stadium against the Portland Thorns.
A National Women’s Soccer League veteran, Scott has a long history of representing Canada on the international stage, including four Olympic appearances (2024, 2020, 2016, 2012), where she helped Canada win a Gold Medal in 2020 and featured in Canada’s Bronze Medal-winning squads in 2012 and 2016. Scott had a huge impact during Canada’s Bronze Medal match in 2012, clearing a ball off the line to keep the match tied at 0-0. Canada ultimately took home the Bronze Medal, thanks in large part to Scott’s contributions.
Scott made her senior national team debut in 2010, earning a gold medal at the CONCACAF Championship, and went on to compete in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, where Canada also won gold at the Pan Am Games. From 2011 to 2015, she earned 62 consecutive caps for Canada. After the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Scott helped secure a spot for Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics with a silver finish at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier. She also played a key role in Canada’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, logging nearly every minute of the team’s matches.
As a standout student-athlete, Scott played for the University of Manitoba Bisons from 2005 to 2010. During her career, she was named team MVP three times and earned the title of Bison Sports Female Athlete of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.
Off the field, Scott was appointed to the Order of Manitoba on February 22, 2023, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to both her professional career at the club level and her achievements on the international stage with the national team. She was also inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2019 and received the inaugural NWSL Ally Award in 2021.
Scott is the seventh player to be announced by the team. Since January 6, the club has revealed the signings of six players: Miranda Smith, Liv Scott, Emily Amano, Florence Belzile, Melanie Forbes, and Julia Benati.
Season tickets for the inaugural season of professional women’s soccer in the Nation’s Capital are on sale now here. Fans are also encouraged to stay up to date on club news by following on social media @ottrapidfc and signing up for the team’s newsletter at rapidfc.ca.