One voice, one team, one spark...

Greetings Ya'll,

Because of the inferno that is quickly claiming the ground of my northern friends (Canada), I think it is wise to break down, for those who aren't aware, exactly what the Canadian Women's National Team has done within the past few months.

1. Canada beats Mexico to win CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2011 World Cup

2. Canada announces that it'll make a bid for the 2015 World Cup

3. Canada travels to the Four Nations Tournament in China, loses to the US in the final match

4. A legal dispute begins between the team and the CSA, fearing that the women's national team is being paid less for their action than the national men's team.

5. Head Coach Carolina Morace announces that after this years World Cup in Germany she will be stepping down as head coach of the national team because of conflict between herself and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA). Not directly related to the arbritation taking place already due to money conflicts.

6. During a session within the CSA, Canadian National Player Kara Lang, releases letter she had written in the event that she was given the chance to speak, making a strong case of support towards Coach Morace against the CSA. She was not given the chance, but it can be read here on last weeks "Weekly Wrap"

7. Over the weekend the CNWNT (Canadian Women's National Team) finally took a solid stand against CSA and announced that they will NOT play another international game, including the upcoming Cyprus Cup and even the 2011 World Cup, until the CSA brings Morace back into the picture.

Anyone else as amazed as I am?

So many questions at the moment. Will the CSA listen? Will they change their procedures? Will the women's team get paid the same as the men's national team? Will Canada be in the World Cup? Currently the Maple Leaf's are ranked 9th in the world. Having a team that highly rank pull a no show would blow away the pouting French in the '10 World Cup.

While the world cringed to see the men's team from France put on the show they did in South Africa, the Canadian's are putting on a whole different show...

...they're attempting to shake the world.

While voting has come to many women in many countries, and job opportunities are to be 'as equal' in countries such as the US, and in a time where high schools, colleges, and universities are required to dictate athletics based off Title XI (For every men's sport there must be a women's sport) inside the States, we can all admit sadly that at the professional level...women's sports mean very little to much of the masses unless their wearing close to nothing and diving into sand.*

With that said, this writer is cautiously excited about what the national team has done. How CSA responds will determine the magnitude of this event. Having a team from a rather peaceful country speak out against the organization that allows them to exist, that's monumental. If it is successful, what does that mean for the rest of the world of women's soccer? Will teams in Europe start speaking up? Should they? The W-League in Australia is chomping at the bit to get their fame known with the rest of the leagues in the country. Possibly most importantly, should the women's leagues in the US stand up against the USSF?

Between the learning of the World Cup being shown on Al Jazzera, which still gives me goosebumps, the creation of a women's division inside Abu Dhabi Football League, the future expansion of the playing field for the 2015 World Cup, and now Canada's stand, the women's game is growing closer and closer to the spotlight.

The sparks been ignited, will Canada be the team that fans the flame?

-D-

As curious about all of these happenings as I am? Follow me on Twitter to learn more, @CoachDaugherty

*By no means am I stating that I include myself in this statistic, but it is worth noting how many people view women's sports as nothing but 'eye candy', and I think many of readers of this article will agree. I do not support such thought processes, but sadly I believe that though it be hard to swallow, we must face such truths like this, united.