I look forward to the day when the NSL is on the same level as Liga BBVA or NWSL, but the path to that runs through a lot of these kinds of deals

More players may look at Canada differently. Clubs overseas start watching NSL games differently. Canadian players may start viewing the NSL not as an alternative to playing abroad, but as another legitimate step toward getting there. That is the opportunity in front of the league.

Foster-Inman’s move is historic because she’s the first. The real measure of its impact will be whether she eventually becomes the first of many.