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Delaney Baie (DB) Pridham, the Northern Super League’s first Golden Boot winner and Player of the Year, has extended her contract with the Rapid FC through the 2028 season.
The 28-year old has scored 28 goals over the NSL’s first two seasons, and has multiple appearances with Canada national women’s team. She is expected to be on the roster this fall as Canada looks to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Pridham, born in Saratoga, Calif., attended Santa Clara University and has played with IBV in Iceland and Kristianstads DFF and Linköpings FC in Sweden. But Pridham takes pride in playing in Ottawa.
“Being a part of such a strong club with our new owners having their belief and their vision for the future of the club excited me,” she said. “I’m really happy here. It’s a beautiful city, and we have an amazing fan base that continues to grow.”
Thomas Gilbert, CEO of Rapid FC, said he was not surprised by her decision to stay at the club.
“We’ve been talking to her since last year about this,” he said. “I think in DB you see somebody who is so driven and so committed to the things that she’s committed to, that I felt confident that if we came to the table with an offer that was within the market of what she deserves to get, that she would have the conversation with us.”
Delaney Baie Pridham scored a late winner as Ottawa Rapid FC sealed a 2-1 victory over AFC Toronto.
Terms of the deal were not announced.
Pridham is not the only Canadian talent to transplant to Ottawa. Former national team stalwart Carmelina Moscato has been announced as Ottawa’s head coach for next season replacing Katrine Pederson. Moscato has coached in the U.S, Denmark, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
Her addition to the club showcases the top tier talent being drawn to the NSL, something Gilbert thinks speaks to the caliber of the league.
“More broadly, I think that this league has a mandate to be one of the best leagues in the world,” he said. “And I think that when we look at the teams across the league and the way that the front offices and the technical staff are approaching delivering on that mandate, signings like DB’s, signings like Carm’s, are proof points that we’re moving in the right direction.”
While some players have started with the NSL and moved on to other leagues, this is not an issue of concern to Gilbert nor to NSL president Christina Litz.
“The flow of talent in and out of the league is something that we’re constantly thinking about,” Gilbert said. “What we try to do is to act proactively to make sure that we are delivering conditions and contract values that cause people to want to stay.”
“Players have all sorts of reasons that they want to play in other leagues or for other clubs,” Litz said. “In some cases player movement is part of the club strategy as it pertains to the transfer market, and in some cases it results from mutual discussions where the player has personal reasons for wanting to move to another league and it’s a discussion and decision made mutually with their club.”
Pridham said she consulted with Moscato and that discussion motivated her to stay at Ottawa FC.
“I had a great chat with her and it went really well,” Pridham said. “I was excited to hear about her as a person and her as a coach, and feel good about my decision extending with the club.”
The NSL offers players a place where they will get minutes and experience that they might not get on higher-level international clubs. For those that have their sights on the national team, this is important.
In recent months, the NSL has acquired such top players as Sabrina D’Angelo and Shelina Zadorsky at AFC Toronto, and Marie-Yasmine (Mimi) Alidou at Montreal Roses. Those players have represented Canada at the highest levels of women’s soccer in the world. According to the league, there are more than 30 players representing or who have represented other nations bringing a solid international perspective and colour to the NSL, and that is by design.
“Our goal is to be a top-five league in the world,” Litz said. “When we see players at the top of their game choose to spend their time at the NSL, whether as a new player or a returning player like DB [Pridham], it shows us that we’re on the right track. Acknowledging that there is still work to do, attracting and retaining top talent continues to be a priority for our clubs and league.”
While the league continues to grow, signings and contract extensions will be indicators of that success. One of the most important offerings from the NSL and for Canadian players specifically is the element of home. Litz said the impact on players being able to play in Canda and be near family and friends is a huge driver.
“They understand how important it is for the NSL to thrive and we really see what is almost a personal commitment by so many of them to help grow this league by choosing to play here even if they could play elsewhere.”
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