“I’m going to tear up the first time I see a fan wearing my jersey”: Meet Jade Kovacevic, AFC Toronto’s not-so-secret weapon

Let’s start with a bit of Northern Super League 101. What is it? And more importantly, how will it succeed where so many women’s leagues have failed? The NSL is the first pro women’s soccer league in Canada, and the appetite for it isn’t new. We’ve just never had the infrastructure necessary to build viable careers for players. Most Canadian women have been forced to play in the US or in Europe—that’s what I did in 2019. At the time, there were rumours of a new national pro league. I wanted to be ready when it materialized.

Why now for the NSL? We’re riding a wave, with huge crowds showing up to PWHL and WNBA games and greater investment in soccer from celebrities like Natalie Portman and Magic Johnson. Why didn’t it happen earlier? People used to say that there was no business case for our game, but all those naysayers are getting left behind. What stopped us was that we didn’t have the resources. Related: The stars of the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres on finally having a league of their own

Do you expect big crowds? I attended the Battle on Bay Street in January, a sold-out women’s hockey game at Scotiabank Arena between Toronto and New York, and it was surreal. The Sceptres have captured hearts in this city. AFC Toronto games will be the same. The NSL is all about show­casing players on and off the field, and I think the women’s side does a better job of connecting with fans than the men’s.

Why is that? We want fans to feel like they’re with us on the journey. Every female player remembers getting their start playing against the boys, joining grassroots clubs, living out of a suitcase. We had to build our own communities. Our fans see themselves in us. And now, for the first time, they get to see professionals on home soil. That connection makes women’s sports unique.

Are there times when you’re just not up for posing for a selfie, though? Heck no—even if I’ve got food in my teeth. If fans want to say hello, they should come on up.

Rivalries are key for fan fervour. Who is AFC Toronto’s nemesis? There’s always been a clash between Ontario and Quebec, and our first game is against Montreal on April 19 at BMO Field, so that match will be feisty.

The team logo is a simple stylized T. A bit plain, no? I’m excited by the branding on the logo. You’ve got the T as an anchor, supported by mirrored images of the number seven, which pays tribute to the seven founding members of AFC Toronto. Togetherness is our thing.

How do you get under your opponents’ skin? Do you have much of a trash-talking game? Ha! I’ve been told that I look mean on game days. But I prefer to shut down my opponents with my play, not my words. The sweet satisfaction of winning is what I want.

Was it love at first kick, or did your parents push you into soccer? I started when I was three because I wanted to do everything my older brother did. Then I tried gymnastics for a while and a few other school sports. But my passion was soccer, so it became my career focus even though I was already well into my 20s when I pursued it in earnest. That’s very late. Today, teenage girls are going over to Europe to play and be paid. That just wasn’t an option for my cohort.

You’re from Acton. Have your teammates been asking you for tips on where to go out in Toronto? We have some downtown Toronto girls on the squad, like Sarah ­Rollins and Ivymae Perez. So if anything, I ask them. The other day I checked out the Reservoir Lounge, a great little jazz bar on Wellington. I also recently visited Public Gardens on King West—great espresso martinis!

The minimum player salary in the NSL is $50,000—a big step forward. But players on TFC earn well into the millions. Can that gap be narrowed? It can, and that comes with promoting the game and promoting the players—as humans first—in all forms of media across Canada. We’ve got competitive salaries and guaranteed contracts, which means security. Amazing. But showing Canadians that we’re here to compete is just as important.

Have you seen any fans wearing your jersey yet? No, but if someone likes the number nine and wants to take a crack at pronouncing my last name, that’s great. I will definitely tear up the first time I see it.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.