_032.jpg) Scott with theKansas City Current in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Desiree Rose Marie Scott[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-07-31)July 31, 1987 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ottawa Rapid FC | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Maples Cougars | |||
| North West | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2009 | Manitoba Bisons | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 5 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 8 | (1) |
| 2013 | FC Kansas City | 21 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Notts County | 20 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | FC Kansas City | 35 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Utah Royals | 38 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Kansas City Current | 44 | (0) |
| 2025– | Ottawa Rapid FC | 22 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2003 | Canada U16 | 4 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Canada U19 | 21 | (0) |
| 2010–2025 | Canada | 188 | (0) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 17, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of May 31, 2025 | |||
Desiree Rose Marie Scott (born July 31, 1987) is a Canadian professionalsoccer player who plays forOttawa Rapid FC in theNorthern Super League and theCanada national team. Nicknamed "the destroyer",[2] she won gold at the2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which was her third Olympic medal following bronze medals in2012 in London and in2016 in Rio.
Scott was born and raised inWinnipeg,Manitoba. Her father was born inKingston, Jamaica, while her mother was also born in Winnipeg. She grew up participating in soccer, volleyball, track and field, and basketball.[3] She began playing soccer at the age of eight.[citation needed]
From 2005 to 2009, Scott playedCanadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) soccer for theUniversity of Manitoba. During her tenure with the Bisons, she was named a first team CIS All-Canadian in 2009. She earned Canada West All-Star honours twice and won the Canada West Rookie of the Year award in 2005.[4]
Scott played for theVancouver Whitecaps FC from 2006 to 2012. In 2006, Scott appeared in five matches for the Caps (450 minutes), contributing to the team winning their second W-League title that season.[4]
In 2010, she appeared in seven games and two playoff games for the team contributing one goal and one assist. Scott helped carry the Whitecaps to the W-League Championship where they eventually fell to Buffalo in the final.[4]
In 2013, as part of theNWSL Player Allocation, Scott joinedFC Kansas City in the newNational Women's Soccer League.[5][6]Notts County Ladies of the EnglishFA WSL announced that they had signed Scott in January 2014,[7] but she was subsequently included on the list of Canadian players allocated to the NWSL for 2014.[8]
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In February 2014, after more than a month of speculation and legal delays, Scott was officially signed byNotts County of theFA WSL.[9] She missed the first half of the2015 season while preparing for the World Cup with Canada,[10] but returned in time for the2015 FA Women's Cup Final atWembley Stadium, which County lost 1–0 toChelsea. She left the club in February 2016 after making 20 league appearances.[11]
In February 2016, it was announced that Scott would play forFC Kansas City for the 2016 season of theNational Women's Soccer League via theNWSL Player Allocation.[12]
In February 2018, theCanadian Soccer Association announced that Scott would play for theUtah Royals FC during the 2018 season of theNational Women's Soccer League via theNWSL Player Allocation.[13] She opted out of play during the2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the NWSL Fall Series.
Utah Royals FC folded in December 2020 and her playing rights were transferred to theKansas City Current.[14]
In October 2024, Scott announced that she would retire from the NWSL at the end of the2024 season.[15]
In January 2025, she signed withNorthern Super League clubOttawa Rapid FC.[16] Scott scored her first professional goal, in the club's first ever match on April 27, 2025 againstAFC Toronto.[17]
On September 22, 2025, Scott announced that she would retire from playing professional soccer following the end of the2025 season.[18] Speaking about her final season, she said "I only hope that in my time playing for the Ottawa Rapid, I’ve helped inspire those around me through my play and my tenacious yet joyful spirit on the pitch," and that “Closing out the final chapter of my playing career here on Canadian soil, in front of incredible fans in a professional league once dreamed of, has been my honour.”[19]
With her team having already clinched a spot in the playoffs, Scott's career was celebrated during the Rapid's final regular season game at home in the2025 season, at which the Ottawa mayorMark Sutcliffe declared October 8th in the city to be "Desiree Scott Day" and fans in the crowd of 2906 donned pink headbands in her honour.[20]
Scott has previously represented Canada on theU-16 andU-19 youth teams. After being called up to the senior squad byCarolina Morace, she debuted at the2010 Cyprus Cup and participated in her firstFIFA Women's World Cup at the2011 event, making two substitute appearances. Under coachJohn Herdman, Scott became a regular pick and won a gold medal at the2011 Pan American Games.[21][22]
At the2012 London Olympics, Scott won praise for her performances in the defensive midfield role, drawing comparison to the male playerEdgar Davids.[23] She had a major contribution for the team in the bronze medal game, clearing a ball off the line in defence of the goal to keep the score even at zero.[24] Upon return to her native Winnipeg, Scott was serenaded with chants of her name and outbursts of song consisting of theCanadian national anthem at theWinnipeg airport. Scott took note of the welcome with pride saying that "I'm a very emotional person. To come home and hear my name being screamed... I'm holding back tears right now."[24][25]
On February 11, 2016 Scott became the 15th women's player to make 100 appearances for Canada.[26]
In May 2019 Scott was named to the roster for the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[27]
Scott was called up to the Canada squad for the delayed2020 Summer Olympics.[28]
Scott was called up to the Canada squad for the2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where Canada finished as runners-up.[29]
Scott was an alternate at the2024 Summer Olympics.[30]
In April 2025, Scott announced she would retire from international play, and that afriendly againstHaiti on May 31, 2025, hosted in Winnipeg, would serve as a celebration of her career and her final international appearance.[26]
Scott is an assistant coach at her alma mater,University of Manitoba. She was an assistant coach for theWest Kildonan Collegiate from 2003 until 2005. She also coached at the South End United Soccer Academy, and ran camps for kids while playing with theVancouver Whitecaps and the Canadian women's national team. Scott has also run soccer clinics and camps, and was presenter and instructor for a number of different high school clubs in Winnipeg.[31]
Scott has been an ambassador for theHomeless World Cup since 2014.[32] She is also an athlete ambassador for KidSport Winnipeg, a charity that aims to remove the financial barriers to playing sport, and runs an annual soccer camp for girls on behalf of KidSport Winnipeg.[33]
Kansas City Current
Canada
Individual
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