The NASL believes that the Ottawa expansion team will be ready to play in 2014, even if the stadium isn’t. But sources close to the Canadian Soccer Association have told The 11 that Ottawa's won't be a host city for the U-20 Women's World Cup.

It’s not a surprise — but the heavily favoured Ottawa Fury’s women’s team captured its regular-season division title with a 1-0 win over the Toronto Lady Lynx on Saturday.

Now the plan to allow Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to redevelop Frank Clair stadium can go ahead — so the new facility can be used in time for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the expansion NASL franchise and, oh yeah, the CFL team, too.

“Really, there isn’t a stadium in the city that is suitable (to be a temporary home to NASL),” said Pugh. “I know it’s hard to believe that in the Capital City, there is no other stadium, but that is the case. So, we considered our options and thought the way to go is to begin play in what will be our permanent home.”

NASL Commissioner David Downs made himself available to be interviewed by The 11 on Tuesday. The commissioner, now in his second year with the league, talked about the Ottawa situation, Edmonton's new stadium plans and further expansion into Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Win or lose on Sunday, the Ottawa Fury is Canada’s team of the year. In any sport. Oh, surely, when the Canadian Press gets votes from sports editors across the country for its Team of the Year, the Fury might only get a nod from someone in the nation’s capital and will be widely ignored by everyone else. But, when 2011 comes to a close, the Fury deserve to rank with any of the hockey teams that traditionally dominate that vote.

Mallory Outerbridge is making a massive statement. Will Canadian national women’s team coach Carolina Morace be listening? Outerbridge hopes to break into the Canadian national women’s team lineup when the side will vie for a spot at the 2012 Olympics at the CONCACAF qualifiers, to be held in Vancouver beginning in late January.

When the new Ottawa franchise enters the North American Soccer League as an expansion franchise in 2014, it should have all the ingredients in place to have as successful a debut as FC Edmonton has enjoyed in 2011. Ottawa — which was officially announced Monday as a 2014 expansion team — has even more of a local soccer program to build on than FC Edmonton had, said FCE owner Tom Fath.

Jeff Hunt and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group are preparing for a press conference Monday to announce an NASL expansion club for the Capital region. And, like FC Edmonton, the Ottawa side won’t have any affiliation to another Canadian pro club. That was confirmed by league sources Thursday.