The Northern Super League revealed the Diana B. Matheson Cup on Thursday, the league’s championship trophy and highest honour.
The Diana B. Matheson Cup will be awarded for the first time to the winner of the NSL Final on November 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field, capping off the league’s historic inaugural season.
Naming the treasured trophy after Diana Matheson was unanimously chosen by the NSL’s Board of Governors – to honour and pay tribute to the league’s founder and her key role in bringing professional women’s soccer to Canada.
“The Diana B. Matheson Cup is more than a trophy—it’s a symbol of a new chapter for Canadian sport,” said Christina Litz, President of the Northern Super League said in a statement. “From the beginning, our Board was united in ensuring this championship trophy was named after Diana, recognizing her leadership, her inspiring playing career, and her key role in making the NSL a reality.
“When the first club raises it next month, it won’t just mark a championship—it will stand as proof that Women’s Professional Soccer in Canada deserves this professional stage for generations to come.”
“It’s incredibly humbling to see my name on the championship trophy, especially as it is a Cup that represents so much more, said Matheson in a statement. 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.”
The Cup stands 22 inches tall and features a gold body symbolizing excellence and Olympic triumphs, a bronze base layer representing Canada’s historic medals, and a wood foundation that begins with maple and will be replaced each year with wood sourced from the home region of the winning club. Its Aurora-inspired metalwork reflects the dynamism of the sport, while the North Star emblem crowns the design.