NSL unveils championship trophy honouring league founder Diana Matheson

By Canadian Press on October 2, 2025.

TORONTO — The Northern Super League unveiled its championship trophy, the Diana B. Matheson Cup, on Thursday.

The trophy will be awarded after the league’s first-ever final on Nov. 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field.

It’s named in honour of Diana Matheson, a former star midfielder on the women’s national team and the driving force behind the formation of the Canadian women’s soccer league.

The trophy stands just under 56 centimetres tall and is made of a bronze base layer and a gold body to celebrate Canada’s Olympic success in women’s soccer. Canada won Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics following bronze at the two previous Games.

It’s crowned with the North Star emblem that is part of the league’s logo.

Matheson, who serves as chief growth officer of the NSL, had 19 goals in 206 appearances over 17 years with the Canadian senior women’s team.

“It’s incredibly humbling to see my name on the championship trophy, especially as it is a Cup that represents so much more,” Matheson, who retired from international soccer in 2020, said in a release. “To me, this Cup is about all players — those who paved a pathway for this league and those who will carry its torch going forward.

“My hope is this trophy reflects the excellence and pride of our league. A league that was built by and for Canadians, and made stronger by the fans who will be there every step of the way.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2025.

The Canadian Press