‘Going for gold’: KC NWSL Canadians elated for teammate Desiree Scott in Tokyo

While U.S. soccer fans were lamenting a semifinals loss for the women’s team on Monday, a few KC NWSL Canadians were celebrating a historic moment for their country.

Midfielders Jordyn Listro and Victoria Pickett were elated for their KC NWSL and Canadian teammate Desiree Scott in Tokyo when the final whistle blew. Canada had sealed its trip to the gold medal match with the 1-0 win over the U.S. women’s national team.

Scott, who is a Canada soccer veteran, was one of the few players in Tokyo who played in the loss to the U.S. women’s national team in a semifinal match at the London 2012 Olympics.

It was a loss the Canadians have been chasing ever since, and Monday they won against the U.S. for the first time since March 11, 2001.

“There’s some veterans on this team that still feel that hurt from London 2012,” Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman said after the semifinals win. “I’m over the moon for that group of players to get that. ... they’ve done so much for the program. For us, we were clear, we wanted to change the color of the medal. Winners win and we’re going into that final to get a gold medal.”

Not only is it a momentous win over its North American rival, it’s the first time Canada has advanced to the final of a major tournament. Canada will face Sweden on Friday.

Pickett said her favorite moment of the tournament so far was seeing Scott’s emotions after the win.

“She’s been having her eye on this since 2012, and to be able to say that they beat the U.S. for the first (time in) 20 years is a huge deal,” Pickett said. “I’m just so happy for her.”

With the time difference between the U.S. and Tokyo, many of the games have been broadcast live as early as 3 a.m. in the U.S. Pickett admitted she’s mainly watched replays, but would immediately check Twitter for results when she woke up.

“I feel bad because I need my sleep,” Pickett said. “I’m definitely an eight-hour person, so if I don’t, I’m kind of cranky.”

Listro sometimes woke up in the middle of the night and would rush to her phone for score updates. Listro was in Portland during the semifinal game, so Listro drifted off halfway through and woke up to a 1-0 lead.

“After the game I was like, ‘Oh my god, wait, did they really win, or was I dreaming?’” Listro said. “(I’m) just so happy for them.”

Both Pickett and Listro have earned call-ups in the past with their Canadian national team, Listro making two appearances in the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. Priestman, who took over the senior women national team in 2020, brings confidence to her players, Listro said.

“It’s just so much fun to play for her, and I think that the team builds off of that,” Listro said. “You can see they believe in themselves and they believe that they can win gold, and now here they are, in the gold medal match.”

The semifinal was a massive win over the U.S. for Canada, and it came on a penalty kick taken by Jessie Fleming. International leading goal scorer Christine Sinclair originally had the ball in her hands, but handed it to Fleming, almost like the passing of a baton. Listro said the moment “gives me goosebumps.”

Another emotional moment of the game occurred when Sinclair was subbed off in the 87th minute. Her captain’s armband had to stay on the field, so she walked over to Scott and handed it to the other 2012 veteran.

Players like Scott and Sinclair have had an immense impact on the women’s professional game in Canada, paving the way for players like Pickett and Listro. Both Pickett and Listro grew up watching the Canadian legends, and Pickett said she even had a picture of the two on her wall growing up.

“I think they’ve made a huge impact on football,” Pickett said. “I think they’ve also shown just like how much women’s football means to the general football world … it’s an honor to be able to say I played with them.”

Sinclair, who has 187 international goals to her name, will have the chance to add a gold medal to her accomplishments, and it may very well be her last chance to do so.

“Honestly I’ve never met a better leader than Christine Sinclair, just on and off the field,” Listro said. “To be able to inspire younger generations and then even being in my first couple of camps with them, just so positive and encouraging, and I think that that shows in the younger players that are there.”

Scott isn’t without her own impact. She’s had 150 starts in 166 appearances for the national team, and she’s playing in her third Olympic Games.. She’s been a key piece to the three Olympic teams winning bronze at the last two Olympics. Canada is the only nation to reach the podium at London 2012, Rio 2016 and now Tokyo 2020.

Scott first made a name for herself in 2012 when she was selected for the tournament’s First XI.

“Knowing Desi, how emotional how passionate she is, this has to be one of the best moments of her career right now, and it’s been a glorified career,” KC NWSL head coach Huw Williams said. “Could not be happier for her as a player and as a person, too. Desi as a person, she’s great around everybody … just the personality and the character that she has, you’re so happy that this is happening for her towards the end of her career.”

Having joined the Kansas City squad this year, Listro has loved being around Scott, especially since they play the same position.

“She is so good at what she does,” Listro said. “I hope to be that type of player one day and learn from her. So I love being around her, just so that I can keep learning, and hopefully when she decides to retire I can somewhat be that player that she was.”

There’s another piece of history that will be made Friday, regardless of the result. Canadian midfielder Quinn, who plays for OL Reign in the NWSL, will be the first openly transgender and/or nonbinary athlete to win an Olympic medal.

“I’ve known Quinn ever since they were 8,” Listro said. “We played together growing up, and it’s just amazing to see them so confident and just paving the way for other trans athletes. It’s amazing.”

Pickett and Listro are beyond proud to be Canadians and with a gold medal within reach, Pickett said she’ll be watching Friday’s game live at 7 a.m.

“I am so pumped,” Pickett nearly yelled, “we’re going for gold.”