The Canadian Press Team of the Year has been recognized annually since 1966. This year marks the first time a soccer team has won the award. It also marks just the second time a women’s team has captured the prize, following the win by Sandra Schmirler’s curling team in 1998.
The women’s soccer team helped Team Canada win a medal in a summer Olympic team sport for the first time since 1936. The women’s soccer bronze medal was one of 18 Olympic medals captured by Team Canada at the London 2012 Olympics. It also marked Canada’s highest finish in a major women’s soccer tournament, bettering a fourth-place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2003.
Along with the bronze medal at London 2012, the Canadian team finished a runner-up at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in January, the Cyprus Women’s Cup in March, and the Match world Women’s Cup in July. Canada also tied a national record by posting 14 international wins in a single year.