Canadian soccer player Desiree Scott to retire at end of NWSL season

Desiree Scott, a hard-nosed defensive midfielder who won 187 caps for Canada, has announced her retirement at the end of the National Women's Soccer League season.

The 37-year-old from Winnipeg, known as the Destroyer for her hard tackling, has spent seven pro season in Kansas City, for both FC Kansas City and Kansas City Current. She also played for the Utah Royals in the NWSL, England's Notts County and the Vancouver Whitecaps women.

"It is bittersweet to think about this moment but I know that the timing is right. It's time. Your girl's tired," Scott said with a giggle in a social media video. "I also know in my hearts of hearts I'm at peace with this decision. I've given so much to the game over the last 20-plus years but it has given me so much back in return."

Crunching tackles were Scott's calling card. Former Canada coach John Herdman was credited for coming up with the Destroyer nickname during the 2012 Olympic qualifiers.

"He did an interview after and he said `How about that Desi Scott?"' Scott recalled in a 2020 interview with The Canadian Press. "He just said "She's destroying them out there.' And it just sort of stuck from there."

Scott has been hampered by injury in recent times. She missed the entire 2023 season due to a knee injury, returning March 30, 2024, for a game against Angel City FC.

She last played for Canada in June in a pair of friendlies with Mexico in Montreal and Toronto. They were her first outings in Canadian colours since November 2022.

Scott was 22 when she made her debut for Canada in February 2010 in a 2-1 win over Switzerland at the Cyprus Cup. She would become the fifth Canadian to earn 150 caps, joining Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt and Rhian Wilkinson.

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