A shocking investigation by The Globe and Mail has pulled back the curtain on a series of scandals surrounding Canada’s women’s soccer team, revealing a toxic mix of espionage, alleged sexual misconduct, and a party culture that has rocked the program to its core. These revelations paint a troubling picture of a team in turmoil, with behavior that has left a lasting stain on the sport.
Drone spying: just the tip of the iceberg
The scandal began to unravel during preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics when a training session for New Zealand’s women’s soccer team was interrupted on July 24 by an unauthorized drone hovering above. The drone, it was later discovered, belonged to members of the Canadian delegation. Two individuals were suspended following the incident, but according to The Globe and Mail, this was just one small piece of a much larger, more sinister puzzle.
Reports suggest that drones linked to Canada were also spotted near training grounds of other athletes in Paris, raising serious concerns about systemic espionage. The investigation revealed that several officials within the Canadian sports federation resigned after refusing to participate in such illicit activities.
Sex, parties, and power games behind the scenes
The exposé goes beyond spying, uncovering a culture of alleged misconduct under Beverly Priestman, Canada’s head coach from 2020 to 2024. Anonymous sources claimed that Priestman, along with other staff members, frequently attended late-night parties just hours before matches. These gatherings reportedly included the use of sexual paraphernalia, while participants were encouraged—or pressured—to engage in inappropriate conversations fueled by alcohol.
Some staff members revealed they were subjected to sexually explicit questions during team gatherings, creating a deeply uncomfortable and unprofessional environment. One player described the atmosphere as “tense and toxic,” with allegations of harassment reaching high-ranking staff members, including performance analyst Jasmine Mander. Mander was accused of sexually harassing colleagues and fostering a hostile workplace. The fallout from her alleged behavior included an investigation and allegations of panic-inducing intimidation tactics.
“It gave me a panic attack”: testimonies emerge
Several players and staff interviewed anonymously painted a grim picture of life within the organization. “It gave me a panic attack,” one individual told The Globe and Mail, recounting their experience with Mander. Despite these allegations, the internal culture persisted for years, tarnishing the team’s reputation and pushing many to their breaking point.
On the field: success overshadowed by scandal
Despite the turmoil, Canada’s performance at Paris 2024 was strong, finishing 12th overall in the medal rankings with nine golds, seven silvers, and 11 bronzes—a total of 27 medals. However, the team’s success is now overshadowed by the controversy.
Evelyne Viens, one of the team’s brightest stars, expressed concerns about how these revelations might impact the team’s legacy. “I hope our reputation isn’t ruined and that people don’t think we cheat,” she said, just a week after the Olympics.
A program on the brink
The revelations from The Globe and Mail expose a deeply troubled system that allowed misconduct and unethical behavior to fester for years. The Canadian women’s soccer program, once celebrated for its competitive success, now finds itself at the center of a scandal that could have far-reaching implications for the nation’s sporting reputation.
As investigations continue and the fallout unfolds, one question remains: how did such a toxic culture persist for so long, and can Canada’s women’s soccer team ever rebuild its tarnished legacy? For now, the answers are as unsettling as the scandals themselves.