Whitecaps FC Girls Elite, the lone returning team in this year’s League1 Canada Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship, enters this weekend’s competition at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont. with eyes on hoisting the trophy once again in 2024.
The representative out of League1 BC, the Whitecaps start play on Friday, hosting the day’s second semifinal against Calgary Blizzard of League1 Alberta at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
As the competition’s defending champion, the Vancouver-based team will hope by Sunday to find itself facing either NDC Ontario or CS Mont-Royal Outremont in the Championship Final.
The Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship represents the first of two major competitions the Whitecaps will compete in this month. The side will also travel to San Salvador on Aug. 15 to meet Alianza Women FC in the playoff round of the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup. It’s a tournament the Whitecaps qualified for by way of winning last year’s Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship.
“Representing both the province of BC, and the Whitecaps club itself … it’s an incredible opportunity for both us and the players and coaching staff, and the kids that are coming through the program,” said Whitecaps Head Coach Katie Collar.
Lofty goals are not new for Collar’s group. The team finished atop the standings in the League1 B.C. regular season with a 10-0-2 record, winning the title by nine points. They outscored opponents by 48 goals to seven. Last weekend, the Whitecaps beat Burnaby FC 2-1 to collect their third straight League1 BC playoff title.
Collar won Coach of the Year at League1 BC’s end of season awards for, while midfielder Jeneva Hernandez Gray and striker Kiera Blundell each took home multiple honours.
It’s been a “really fun” journey since last year, said Collar.
“I’ve never seen a team more ready to go, more inspired to continue, to push on to the next level,” said Collar. “Over the course of this year, our goal was set for the Inter-Provincial Championship, and then once Concacaf was announced, then our eyes went to that as well. I think both from an inter-provincial perspective and from everything beyond that, the journey has really been about being our best every day and taking each step as they come, then move on and continue to push for something great.”
But first they will have to get through a Calgary Blizzard team that is making its debut at the Inter-Provincial Championship. It’s a program that Collar and some of her players are familiar with, and one that will no doubt look to upset the reigning champions.
“Being from Calgary, Diogo Raposo, the head coach for the Blizzard team, him and I have met in many a final, so I’m really excited to see him out there, and I’m excited that Alberta has had the chance this year to compete in League1 and compete to go to the Inter-Provincial Championship, and now have a chance to also potentially win the title,” said Collar.
It’s an exciting time for the growth of the game in her native province, said Collar, who expects a competitive and organized opponent in the Blizzard.
“They’ve got some great players, some players that are really experienced in terms of university championships,” she said. “Looking forward to seeing them all there, and really happy to see the Alberta groups competing for this title.”
Individual match tickets for the 2024 Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship are on sale here, starting at $20. Fans can also purchase a Weekend Ticket Pack starting at $35. Each Weekend Ticket Pack also grants the ticket holder access to the inaugural League1 Ontario Women’s League2 Division Final, which will be played at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. ET. The winner of the final will earn the divisional title and promotion to the L1ON Championship Division, the second tier of the League1 Ontario competition pyramid.