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Desiree Scott

Desiree Scott
Scott with the Kansas City Current in 2024
Personal information
Full name Desiree Rose Marie Scott[1]
Date of birth (1987-07-31) July 31, 1987 (age 38)
Place of birth Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ottawa Rapid FC
Number 11
Youth career
Maples Cougars
North West
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Manitoba Bisons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5 (0)
2010–2012 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 8 (1)
2013 FC Kansas City 21 (0)
2014–2015 Notts County 20 (0)
2016–2017 FC Kansas City 35 (0)
2018–2020 Utah Royals 38 (0)
2021–2024 Kansas City Current 44 (0)
2025– Ottawa Rapid FC 9 (1)
International career‡
2003 Canada U16 4 (0)
2005–2006 Canada U19 21 (0)
2010–2025 Canada 188 (0)
Medal record
Women's soccer
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Team
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2011 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 11, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of May 31, 2025

Desiree Rose Marie Scott (born July 31, 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Ottawa Rapid FC in the Northern Super League and the Canada national team. Nicknamed "the destroyer",[2] she won gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which was her third Olympic medal following bronze medals in 2012 in London and in 2016 in Rio.

Early life

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Scott was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her father was born in Kingston, Jamaica, while her mother was also born in Winnipeg. She grew up participating in soccer, volleyball, track and field, and basketball.[3] She began playing soccer at the age of eight.[citation needed]

University career

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From 2005 to 2009, Scott played Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) soccer for the University of Manitoba. During her tenure with the Bisons, she was named a first team CIS All-Canadian in 2009. She earned Canada West All-Star honours twice and won the Canada West Rookie of the Year award in 2005.[4]

Club career

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Early career

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Scott played for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC from 2006 to 2012. In 2006, Scott appeared in five matches for the Caps (450 minutes), contributing to the team winning their second W-League title that season.[4]

In 2010, she appeared in seven games and two playoff games for the team contributing one goal and one assist. Scott helped carry the Whitecaps to the W-League Championship where they eventually fell to Buffalo in the final.[4]

FC Kansas City

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In 2013, as part of the NWSL Player Allocation, Scott joined FC Kansas City in the new National Women's Soccer League.[5][6] Notts County Ladies of the English FA WSL announced that they had signed Scott in January 2014,[7] but she was subsequently included on the list of Canadian players allocated to the NWSL for 2014.[8]

Notts County

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Playing for Notts County in 2014

In February 2014, after more than a month of speculation and legal delays, Scott was officially signed by Notts County of the FA WSL.[9] She missed the first half of the 2015 season while preparing for the World Cup with Canada,[10] but returned in time for the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, which County lost 1–0 to Chelsea. She left the club in February 2016 after making 20 league appearances.[11]

Return to FC Kansas City

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In February 2016, it was announced that Scott would play for FC Kansas City for the 2016 season of the National Women's Soccer League via the NWSL Player Allocation.[12]

Utah Royals FC

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In February 2018, the Canadian Soccer Association announced that Scott would play for the Utah Royals FC during the 2018 season of the National Women's Soccer League via the NWSL Player Allocation.[13] She opted out of play during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the NWSL Fall Series.

Kansas City Current

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Utah Royals FC folded in December 2020 and her playing rights were transferred to the Kansas City Current.[14]

In October 2024, Scott announced that she would retire from the NWSL at the end of the 2024 season.[15]

Ottawa Rapid FC

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In January 2025, she signed with Northern Super League club Ottawa Rapid FC.[16] Scott scored her first professional goal, in the club's first ever match on April 27, 2025 against AFC Toronto.[17]

International career

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Scott has previously represented Canada on the U-16 and U-19 youth teams. After being called up to the senior squad by Carolina Morace, she debuted at the 2010 Cyprus Cup and participated in her first FIFA Women's World Cup at the 2011 event, making two substitute appearances. Under coach John Herdman, Scott became a regular pick and won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.[18][19]

At the 2012 London Olympics, Scott won praise for her performances in the defensive midfield role, drawing comparison to the male player Edgar Davids.[20] She had a major contribution for the team in the bronze medal game, clearing a ball off the line in defence of the goal to keep the score even at zero.[21] Upon return to her native Winnipeg, Scott was serenaded with chants of her name and outbursts of song consisting of the Canadian national anthem at the Winnipeg airport. Scott took note of the welcome with pride saying that "I'm a very emotional person. To come home and hear my name being screamed... I'm holding back tears right now."[21][22]

On February 11, 2016 Scott became the 15th women's player to make 100 appearances for Canada.[23]

In May 2019 Scott was named to the roster for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[24]

Scott was called up to the Canada squad for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.[25]

Scott was called up to the Canada squad for the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where Canada finished as runners-up.[26]

Scott was an alternate at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[27]

In April 2025, Scott announced she would retire from international play, and that a friendly against Haiti on May 31, 2025, hosted in Winnipeg, would serve as a celebration of her career and her final international appearance.[23]

Coaching career

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Scott is an assistant coach at her alma mater, University of Manitoba. She was an assistant coach for the West Kildonan Collegiate from 2003 until 2005. She also coached at the South End United Soccer Academy, and ran camps for kids while playing with the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Canadian women's national team. Scott has also run soccer clinics and camps, and was presenter and instructor for a number of different high school clubs in Winnipeg.[28]

Scott has been an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup since 2014.[29] She is also an athlete ambassador for KidSport Winnipeg, a charity that aims to remove the financial barriers to playing sport, and runs an annual soccer camp for girls on behalf of KidSport Winnipeg.[30]

Honours

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Kansas City Current

Canada

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 – List of Players: Canada" (PDF). FIFA. July 6, 2015. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Stevenson, Chris (August 8, 2012). "Desiree Scott toughens up Canada's Olympic soccer squad". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  3. ^ Desiree Scott at Canada Soccer. Retrieved 3 February 2013. Edit this at Wikidata
  4. ^ a b c "Desiree Scott player profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  5. ^ "Player distribution sees NWSL take shape". FIFA. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  6. ^ "NWSL team rosters taking shape". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  7. ^ "Women's football: Notts County Ladies sign Desiree Scott". British Broadcasting Corporation. January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  8. ^ Mayers, Joshua (January 3, 2014). "NWSL reveals updated list of league's allocated players". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "Desiree Scott's Signing Confirmed". Notts County. February 27, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Aloia, Andrew (July 3, 2015). "Women's World Cup: Extend WSL break, says Notts County boss". BBC Sport. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  11. ^ "Desiree Scott: Midfielder leaves Notts County for Kansas City". BBC Sport. February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Canadian Players for 2016 Season". Archived from the original on February 11, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "Canada Soccer announces 2018 NWSL allocations". Canada Soccer. February 15, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  15. ^ Yang, Steph (October 17, 2024). "Desiree Scott on retiring after six months of heartbreak: 'You kind of know it's coming'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Steiner, Ben (January 14, 2025). "Ottawa Rapid swing big by signing CanWNT icon Desiree Scott". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  17. ^ "Captain Desiree Scott Secures Ottawa Rapid FC Victory with First Professional Goal in Inaugural Opening Match". Ottawa Rapid FC. April 30, 2025.
  18. ^ Posted, Simon Fuller (November 9, 2011). "Nov 2011: Soccer star helps score Pan Am gold for Canada". Our Communities. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  19. ^ "Desiree Scott". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. October 25, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  20. ^ Johnson, George (August 6, 2012). "Canada beats Great Britain with two early goals to reach Olympic soccer semis". National Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  21. ^ a b Paul Friesen (August 13, 2012). "Desiree Scott's the talk of the town". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
  22. ^ "Winnipeg welcomes medal-winner Desiree Scott". Winnipeg Free Press. August 13, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Soccer, Media Canada (April 22, 2025). "Canada Soccer Announces CANWNT Home Matches in Winnipeg and Montréal". Canada Soccer Pressroom. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019". Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  25. ^ "Canada Soccer unveils Women's National Team roster for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Canadian Soccer Association. June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "CANADA ANNOUNCE SQUAD FOR THE 2022 CONCACAF W CHAMPIONSHIP". canadasoccer.com. June 24, 2022.
  27. ^ "Kansas City Current midfielder Desiree Scott joining Team Canada for 2024 Olympics". www.kansascitycurrent.com. July 20, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  28. ^ "Bisons Team Staff". University of Manitoba. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  29. ^ "Homeless World Cup Ambassador Profile". Homeless World Cup. www.homelessworldcup.org. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  30. ^ "Team KidSport: Desiree Scott". Manitoba. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  31. ^ "Match Report: Kansas City Current win NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with 2-0 victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC". Kansas City Current. October 25, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "Desiree Scott (WSOC Student-athlete)". canadawesthalloffame.org/. September 3, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
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