REPORT CARD: Assessing an impressive summer window for both CanWNT stars and hopefuls

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Quietly, a massive transfer window for the CanWNT has come and gone, with several Canadians finding themselves at new clubs. 

From some massive transfers for some of Canada’s best players, including a world-record move, to some quieter but just as important transfers for some players on the fringe of Canada’s squad, this was an important window for several players, for good reason. 

After CanWNT coach Casey Stoney pushed for more of her squad to seek out regular roles at their clubs in July, it appears that several players took that advice to heart, shaking up this Canadian player pool quite significantly. 

Now, it remains to be seen whether or not those moves can have that desired effect on the performances of this CanWNT side going forward, something we won’t see until October, at the earliest. 

With their next major tournament not until 2027, however, with the World Cup, the next 12 months will be a good period for players to get quietly settled at their new clubs, which perhaps explains the nature of some of these moves, of which the impact might not be properly felt until 2026 and even 2027, in some cases. 

Overall, though, there’s a lot to like with these transfers, and for good reason. 

To that point, here’s a look at each move and how each player did in a report card, helping get an idea of who may have been the biggest winners of this busy window. 

Olivia Smith (Liverpool→Arsenal, transfer)

For a brief instant this summer, a CanWNT player was the most expensive player on the planet, as Smith was transferred to Arsenal from Liverpool for what was a world record transfer fee at the time.  

After a massive debut WSL season with Liverpool, this is a well-deserved move for Smith, too, as she now heads to a team fresh off a Champions League-winning campaign, and should play a big role at her new club after leading her old side in goals. 

Now, it remains to be seen how long it’ll take for her to become a regular on this Arsenal side, but given the investment they have made to secure her services, it’ll only be a matter of time before she’s starting every week - from a Canadian perspective, hopefully that can happen sometime in 2025-2026 (and she should earn plenty of minutes in a rotation role until then, too). 

Grade: A

MORE: Could record-breaking Arsenal move push CanWNT forward Olivia Smith to world-class level? 

Vanessa Gilles (Angel City→Bayern Munich, transfer)

Following three successful seasons on loan with Lyonnes, Vanessa Gilles has joined another big European side, as she joined Bayern Munich from Angel City this summer.

While Bayern might not have the history yet of a side like Lyonnes, they’ve taken big strides in recent years and are now set to push for their first-ever Champions League title, as they look to really cement themselves among the biggest teams in Europe. 

That they’ve added someone like Gilles to help spearhead their ambitions is quite important, so look for her to further prove what she showed with Lyonnes, where she was one of the top defenders in the world, as she’ll now get to showcase herself in an even bigger role at her new club. 

Grade: A+

MORE: Can Bayern Munich move push CanWNT centre back Vanessa Gilles to the next level? 

Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea→Lyonnes, transfer)

Ashley Lawrence is back in France, as she joined Lyonnes on a transfer from Chelsea this summer, marking her second stint in the country after spending time with PSG to start her professional career. 

After not playing as much as hoped with Chelsea this past season, this appears to be a good move for Lawrence, too, as she’ll have a big role to play on a Lyonnes side hungry for Champions League glory after falling short in the quarter-finals last year. 

One of the best full backs in the world when fit, this year will be all about finding consistency on a Lyonnes side that should fit her quite well, especially in terms of what she can bring to the attack, which is key. 

Grade: A-

Jade Rose (Harvard→Manchester City, free transfer)

Finally, Jade Rose has made her long-awaited leap into the professional game, as she signed with WSL side Manchester City straight out of Harvard. 

As expected, this was a smart and prudent decision from Rose, too, as she managed to join a top team, one where opportunities should be present for her as they look to recover from a season where they finished outside of the WSL’s top three. 

Therefore, while there might be some growing pains as she gets used to this level, there’s no doubt that Rose can thrive at City going forward - now, it’ll be hoped she can have a quick integration into her new team, too. 

Grade: A

MORE: How Jade Rose’s move to Manchester City could push her to take next step with CanWNT 

Florianne Jourde (USC→PSG, free transfer)

All of a sudden, there’s been a wave of younger Canadians who are deciding to head to the professional ranks at an earlier age, which is certainly of benefit to the CanWNT, and Florianne Jourde’s move to PSG is the latest to follow such a journey to the top level. 

Now, the big challenge for Jourde will be to carve out a regular role at her new club, which could take time for her to do, but she’ll benefit from the rigours of being in an environment like this regularly. 

Because of that, we might not see the impact of this move for a season or two, so it’ll be interesting to see how she develops over that time period. In particular, one can wonder if a loan will be on the cards in the near-future, or if she can indeed crack this PSG squad, as the one quibble one could have with this move surrounds the idea that it’s perhaps come just a bit too soon for her, as she perhaps might’ve benefited from a move to another pro team before then moving to PSG - up to her now to prove that notion wrong. 

Grade: B+

MORE: Florianne Jourde joins PSG as wave of young CanWNT hopefuls going pro continues 

Deanne Rose (Leicester City→Nottingham Forest, free transfer)

It’s been a tough few years for Deanne Rose, as major injuries have derailed what was a promising start to her professional career, so she hopes this move to Nottingham Forest is what she needs to hit the reset button. 

Certainly, it’s a big gamble for her to head to the second tier of English football, as one can only wonder if she’d have been better off heading to another top-flight European league if WSL options weren’t on the table, or even going back to North America altogether, joining a side in the NWSL or Northern Super League. Instead, she’s stuck around in England for another season, which is a bold risk for her to take. 

Yet, as Casey Stoney has said, what matters with players is how often they play, not where they play, so perhaps a strong season from Rose could be what she needs to refind her confidence, especially if Forest can earn promotion to the WSL - perhaps, that’s the long-term bet she’s making with this move. 

Grade: C

Clarissa Larisey (Crystal Palace→Houston Dash, transfer)

After a short stint with Crystal Palace, Clarissa Larisey has decided to head to North America, as she joined a Houston Dash side that isn’t shy in signing Canadian players.

Following Palace’s relegation from the WSL, it felt inevitable that Larisey would move, and this is certainly a solid landing spot for someone who had a good scoring record in Sweden before her move to England. 

Therefore, while she joins a Dash side that has struggled mightily over the last few years, she’ll get minutes in a highly competitive league, which could push her to earn the CanWNT caps many felt she deserved but never got enough of while playing in Europe. 

Grade: B+

Sydney Collins (North Carolina Courage→Bay FC, trade)

It’s been a while since Sydney Collins has been back on the field, as she’s dealt with a litany of injuries over the past two seasons, but she’s finally returned to action since this trade from the North Carolina Courage to Bay FC. 

That’s great news for the CanWNT, who will have missed her after the breakout 2023 she had with Canada, as she gives them some good depth at that full back position.

Of course, the big challenge for Collins will be to continue to earn significant minutes while remaining injury-free, but it’s telling that Bay FC were willing to trade for her and sign her to a contract extension despite her injury history, so there are signs that she’ll have a big role at her new club going forward, making this a strong move for her. 

Grade: A-

Brooklyn Courtnall (North Carolina Courage→Bay FC, loan)

Interestingly, there was another Canadian who went from North Carolina to Bay FC this summer, as Brooklyn Courtnall was sent on loan to the California-based club after making just one appearance after signing with the Courage straight out of college this past winter. 

Fittingly, too, she’s actually quite familiar with California after growing up in Los Angeles and going to college at USC, too, so this could be a good reset for her, as she’s shown glimpses of her potential in the NCAA and in her stints with the Canadian U20s. 

Of course, the big challenge at Bay FC will be for her to earn regular minutes, as one could’ve wondered if a loan move to the USL Super League or up to the Northern Super League might’ve made more sense for her to make at her age, but that Bay FC were willing to acquire her suggests they expect her to contribute at the NWSL level this year, which is a positive sign for Courtnall’s development. 

Grade: B

Zoe Burns (FC Fleury 91→AFC Toronto, free transfer)

One of the most encouraging developments with the creation of the Northern Super League has been to see the wave of Canadians who have come home to join the league, and Burns was another exciting acquisition for the league when she joined AFC Toronto this summer. 

Given the experience she brings from her stint with the Utah Royals and then in France, she’s been a big addition for a strong AFC Toronto side, helping further fuel their title hopes. 

Plus, as Casey Stoney has shown, she’s willing to give a shot to NSL players who are performing well, too, so perhaps this move could be what Burns needs to reignite her CanWNT ambitions after making just three appearances with Fleury during her time in France - making it encouraging to see that she’s already hit the ground running with Toronto 

Grade: B+

Sarah Stratigakis (St-Étienne→AFC Toronto, free transfer)

There was a second Canadian who decided to move from France to AFC Toronto this summer, as Sarah Stratigakis was another key signing for a Toronto side looking to bolster their title hopes. 

She’s a bit older than Burns, so this move is a bit less surprising to see from her, although it’s worth noting that she played a much bigger role in France with St-Etienne, who she joined after a half-season stint in the WSL with Bristol City a season prior. 

Ultimately, given how loaded this Toronto side is, the hope for her, Burns and her other Canadian teammates (including CanWNT regular Emma Regan) is that their success this year can push them to bigger roles with the CanWNT, as they’ve been a force to reckon with in league play so far. 

Grade: B+

Latifah Abdu (Montréal Roses→Vancouver Rise, transfer)

In one of the shock moves of the Northern Super League transfer window, Latifah Abdu became the first player to switch clubs within the circuit, as she left the Montréal Roses to join the Vancouver Rise. 

Given that she left the Roses on less-than-ideal terms, as the club wanted to trigger her contract option for the 2026 season before she instead asked to be moved to a different club, it’s a surprise to see her stay within the league, but she’s joining a strong Vancouver side that has been on fire this summer, so it is not a bad move at all for her. 

Seeing how strong she was for the Roses, she’ll want to continue that form with the Rise, who also have CanWNT regular Holly Ward in their ranks - Abdu would love nothing more than to join Ward in Canadian camps going forward, especially if the pair can further power the Rise to more success this season by linking up in their attack. 

Grade: B