Quinn excited by Northern Soccer League opportunity, says 'sky is the limit' for Canadian talent

When Quinn was a young and aspiring soccer player, they would scour the local newspaper to clock the next time the Canadian women's soccer team would play in Toronto. 

"Growing up, there weren't many opportunities to watch professional sports for women," Quinn told CBC Sports. "I was obviously really excited whenever the national team came into town, came into Toronto, and I got to watch. I absolutely begged my parents."

Years later, Quinn has spent more than a decade on the CanWNT, winning two Olympic medals in the process and making history as the first-ever openly transgender and nonbinary athlete to medal at the Games. 

But now, they're knocking off one more bucket list item: playing professionally in Canada, for the inaugural Northern Super League (NSL) season. 

"I've always wanted to be in Vancouver. So it's exciting to see that finally come to fruition," they said following their signing announcement with Vancouver FC Rise. "I'm so excited to go to Toronto, beat Toronto, and then be able to go and have dinner with my family … having them come and watch me … that's just something that I wasn't sure I was ever going to see in my lifetime."

WATCH | Quinn joins CBC Sports to describe excitement of NSL launch:

Quinn ready to lead NSL's Vancouver Rise and 'beat' Toronto

The launch of the NSL in April will make history as the first Canadian pro soccer league for women — a milestone Quinn feels is long overdue.

Despite this, they call the launch of the NSL the turning of a "new leaf" for soccer in Canada and are excited for what it will do for the younger generation of footballers. 

"It's inspiring the younger generation to see that's something that they can achieve when they're older. That's such a cool thing, to