GUELPH, Ont. – Elise Bell, an OUA All-Star and two-time U SPORTS All-Canadian member of the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer program, has signed a professional contract with Ottawa Rapid FC of the Northern Super League (NSL). Bell, a bio-medical science major at the University of Guelph, competed for the Gryphons the past three seasons (2023, 2024 & 2025), helping the Gryphons reach the OUA gold medal game and national championship tournament a season ago. This summer, Bell had a unique opportunity to play for the Simcoe County Rovers in the Canadian Championship, where she helped lead Simcoe County to a signature victory, upsetting a professional team in the Montreal Roses (NSL) by a score of 1-0. Bell was one of three individuals with Gryphon ties who suited up for Simcoe County in that memorable victory, with Olivia Brown and Violet Hipkin also contributing to the Rovers win.

Elise Bell, who played locally for Guelph United this summer, signed her first pro contract with the Ottawa Rapid of the NSL in mid-August. One week after signing with the club, Elise made a memorable debut, subbing into the game in the 70th minute and scoring for her new side in the 82nd minute against the Vancouver Rise.
 
As a member of the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer program, Elise Bell was a two-time U SPORTS All-Canadian, earning First Team All-Canadian honours as a sophomore in 2024 followed by Second Team honours in 2025.
 
The Gryphons women's soccer team will kick off a new season on Saturday, August 29, 2026 when they host the Algoma Thunderbirds at 6pm at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. 
 
About the Northern Super League (NSL):
The Northern Super League is Canada's top-division professional women's soccer league. Owned and operated by Project 8 Sports, the league began play in April 2025 with six founding clubs—Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montreal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto, and Vancouver Rise FC—and will expand to seven teams with the addition of Winnipeg in 2027.