The Ottawa Rapid of the Northern Super League announced last month their first player signing for the upcoming soccer season.
It’s a move that has local fans sitting up and taking notice, with the player in question being St. Thomas native Sadie Waite. To the extreme delight of her curling grandfather, Jim Waite.
She inked a two-year deal to play in the country’s first women’s professional soccer league, which made its debut in 2025.
For the 21-year-old Waite, playing at the professional level in front of family and friends in her home country is very special.
The accomplishment is a testament to all of her past coaches, including Gerry Safadi at Parkside Collegiate Institute.
Waite enjoyed a superb four-year career as a midfielder with the University of Nebraska, and in her senior year, she received an invite from the Rapid that put the ball in motion.
She appeared in 73 games with Nebraska, netting eight goals and adding 10 assists. She was a starter in every game of her final season.
Waite explained why she chose Nebraska, and who influenced her in that decision.
Waite is heading to Ottawa this month to begin preparations for the coming season, which will begin at the end of April.
A calming influence is how Waite describes her style of play in the midfield.
Playing against some of the Canadian legends in the Northern Super League this season is something Waite describes as “super cool.”
In 2024, she appeared in one game with Canada’s U-20 World Cup team, logging 28 minutes of playing time.
And, turning professional at age 21, Waite has a simple piece of advice for young girls wishing to follow in her shoes.
And the endless support of family goes a long way as well, stresses Waite.
In announcing her signing, the Ottawa Rapid enthused, “Sadie Waite is a midfielder with intelligence, vision, and a fearless approach to the game. She can split lines, control the pace, and create chances for her teammates. The middle of the pitch just got stronger and Sadie is ready to make her mark in Ottawa.”
Written by Ian McCallum
Photos courtesy University of Nebraska
