Canadians thriving in NWSL, Europe ahead of April friendly against France

As Canada nears the FIFA Women's World Cup, the national team players are heating up in the NWSL and across Europe. 

While many women's national team players are set to join the Canadian camp ahead of an April 11 friendly against France, the labour issues around Canada Soccer loom large, as do injury concerns to star players. 

Still, several Canadians are thriving with their clubs. 

Although players threatened to not report to the camp due to the current labour situation in February, head coach Bev Priestman understands that the game will go ahead. 

"My understanding and my hope is the game will go ahead," she said. "I have prepared it to go ahead."

Through two weeks of NWSL play, Canadian veterans Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt have been among the best. This weekend, Sinclair's Portland Thorns handed a 4-1 defeat to the Kansas City Current, with Sinclair playing an integral role as an attacking midfielder. 

While Sinclair was held off the scoresheet, she provided three key passes into the final third, the highest-scoring areas of the pitch, and won four tackles through 77 minutes of play.

For a Thorns team coached by former Canadian women's national team goalkeeper coach Mike Norris, the veteran's leadership has been critical as part of their early season success. 

Calling today: Sinc Moves Sunday