Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod battling breast cancer

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st December, 12:12 2025

Pink ribbons with names of breast cancer survivors and those lost to the disease alike are seen during Paint El Paseo Pink in Palm Desert, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod plans to remain with the PWHL team while battling breast cancer.

MacLeod, 43, shared the news of her recent diagnosis through the team's website on Sunday.

"Hearing those words was incredibly difficult, but I want everyone to know that I'm going to be okay," MacLeod said. "I'm incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional medical team guiding me, and together we've built a treatment plan that gives me tremendous confidence in the road ahead. There are still some variables to be determined as we move forward, but my goal -- without question -- is to be behind the bench as often as possible."

MacLeod, who has coached Ottawa since the league's inaugural season in 2024, is also the head coach for the Czechia women's team that is preparing for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.

"I have the best job on the planet," she said. "Coaching the Ottawa Charge and the Czechia Women's National Team is a privilege I cherish deeply. One of my biggest concerns, outside of my own health, was the possibility of not being able to fully support the two programs that mean so much to me. I finally exhaled when my medical team assured me that my treatment should have minimal impact on being present for the Charge season and that I'll still be able to coach Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games in February."

As she begins treatment this week, MacLeod said she will miss the Charge's game Tuesday against the visiting Minnesota Frost.

"The FOMO will be real, but I'm incredibly lucky to be surrounded by world-class players, coaches, and staff who will keep pushing our group forward," she said. "Being with this team fuels me, and I intend to stay as connected as I can during treatment.

"Thank you in advance for the support and kindness I know our incredible Ottawa community always shows. It means a lot to me."

Ottawa split its first two games of the 2025-26 season, losing 4-0 to the New York Sirens in the Nov. 22 opener before defeating the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes 5-1 last Wednesday.

MacLeod played for two gold medal-winning Canada squads at the Olympics in 2006 and 2010. The Alberta-born defender also won gold at the 2007 world championships to go with three silvers (2005, 2008 and 2009).

--Field Level Media

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