9The quick read
Player story
01 · Background
From Chilliwack to Paris—without the college stop
Huitema started soccer in Chilliwack at four and grew up competing in hockey and swimming as well. Her international rise was unusually fast: she scored across Canada’s U-17, U-20 and senior teams in the same year and became the first Canadian woman to sign professionally straight from high school when she joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. She later moved to Seattle Reign, then signed with Chicago Stars in 2026.
02 · How she plays
A mobile target with an aerial edge
At 1.80 metres, Huitema offers a reference point for direct passes and crosses. Her Seattle record shows the aerial threat—three headed league goals in 2023—but she is not only a stationary target. She moves across the front line, pulls into channels and can set the ball for runners arriving underneath. The key is service: early crosses, cut-backs and combinations that let her attack the box facing goal.
03 · Canada role
A different problem for centre-backs
Huitema gives Canada a true centre-forward profile among several more fluid attackers. She can occupy both centre-backs, defend set pieces and change the type of delivery Canada uses in the final third. Her youth scoring record and senior experience show how long she has carried that responsibility, despite still being in her mid-twenties.
Research and further reading
The club journey
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Seattle Reign
- Chicago Stars FC
