‘Eternally Grateful’: Vancouver Rise Captain Samatha Chang Departs Club

After captaining the Vancouver Rise and leading the club to become the inaugural Northern Super League champions, midfielder Samantha Chang marks a surprising departure from the side.

The 25-year-old Mississauga native racked up four goals and four assists for the Rise after featuring regularly through the club’s inaugural campaign. Chang donned the armband for the second half of the club’s campaign, though it’s unclear what’s coming next for her.

Her departure comes exactly one year after she was signed as one of Vancouver’s first-ever player signings ahead of what would become a historic season for the Northern Super League launch team.

Chang had jumped into Canada’s first season of professional women’s soccer from Danish side HB Koge, where she tallied three goals in 35 appearances over two seasons following a spell in Portugal. Before that, she cut her teeth at the semi-professional level with League1 Ontario side Unionville Milliken.

Chang has also made three appearances for the Canadian national team, having made her debut at the 2021 SheBelieves Cup against Argentina.

“Thank you Vancouver from the bottom of my heart,” reads a post form Chang online. “Thank you to my teammates, coaches and all the staff. We literally built this from the ground up and were part of so many firsts in Canadian pro soccer history. I will be eternally grateful for all the experiences and people I met while playing here.”

The Vancouver Rise is starting its title defense season with a few noticeable absences, with veteran full-back Jasmyne Spencer and midfielder Lisa Perchesky both representing high-profile departures who left before club captain Chang.

“I personally grew so much this year and together we had a storybook ending. No matter what, we will forever be the first champions. Not a goodbye, but a see you later,” adds Chang herself.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques