Vancouver Rise Announces First Player

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt Monday, December 16th, 2024 — 9:03am PST

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Vancouver Rise FC has announced the signing of Canadian international defender Shannon Woeller as the first player in club history.

First Player | Coach | League Info

Shannon Woeller - Photo credit Canada Soccer by Mirko Kappes — (2017) Shannon Woeller photo credit Canada Soccer by Mirko Kappes

Vancouver Rise Announces First Player

Woeller, 34, returns home to Vancouver after spending the past 11 years playing abroad in Norway, Iceland, Germany, Sweden, and Spain. Most recently, the experienced defender played for Vittsjö GIK in the Damallsvenskan, the highest division of women’s football in Sweden.

From 2008 to 2012, Woeller kicked off her career playing for Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL W-League, appearing in 48 matches. Following her time with the ‘Caps, she continued in the W-League for one season with Seattle Sounders before beginning her journey playing overseas. Over the past decade she has suited up for IK Grand Bodø (Norway), Stjarnan (Iceland), FF USV Jena (Germany), Eskilstuna United DFF (Sweden), Valencia CF (Spain), Växjö DFF (Sweden), IF Brommapojkarna (Sweden), IFK Norrköping (Sweden), and Vittsjö GIK (Sweden).

Collegiately, Woeller played four years at Rutgers University from 2009 to 2013.

At the international level, Woeller has made 21 appearances for Canada’s senior women’s national team and was a part of the Canadian team at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Woeller first took part in the Canadian program at the U-15 level in 2005, and also represented her country at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Vancouver Rise FC Coach

In November, Vancouver Rise FC announced that Anja Heiner-Møller had been named the first head coach in club history.

A UEFA Pro licensed coach, Heiner-Møller joins Vancouver Rise FC after most recently serving as head coach of the U-19 national team for her native Denmark since 2022. Previously, she spent time as assistant coach for the U-16 national team, head coach of Danish women’s league side Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold, head coach for the FC Nordsjælland U-18 women’s team, and head coach for the Brøndby IF U-18 women’s team. Heiner-Møller returns to Vancouver after spending three years working as an academy coach with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and North Shore Girls Soccer Club from 2018 to 2020.

NSL Season Kick Off

The Vancouver Rise brand was launched in August, joining Ottawa Rapid FC, Halifax Tides FC, AFC Toronto, Calgary Wild FC, and Montreal Roses FC as part of the Northern Super League (NSL).

The women’s pro soccer league is set to kick off next April, with each club hosting 12 or 13 home games in the inaugural 2025 season. Fans can get access to season tickets with a $50 deposit.

Follow Vancouver Rise FC on Instagram for updates.