14The quick read
Player story
01 · Background
The late starter who caught everyone
Gilles was born in Châteauguay, spent part of her childhood in China and grew up in Ottawa. Tennis was her first serious sport; she did not switch fully to organised soccer until around 15 or 16. After a brief try in goal she moved into defence, played university soccer at Cincinnati and began her professional career in Cyprus before Bordeaux, Angel City and Lyon. Bayern Munich signed her in 2025.
02 · How she plays
Win the box—at both ends
Bayern’s technical staff singled out Gilles’ tackling and penalty-area defending when she signed. She attacks crosses, defends the space in front of goal and commits fully to first contact. The same timing makes her a major set-piece target; she scored three times in her first four Bundesliga appearances. Her style is direct and front-footed rather than passive: step in, win the duel and clear the danger.
03 · Canada role
Defensive certainty and late-game danger
Gilles has become one of Canada’s most dependable central defenders and won Canada Soccer’s Player of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025. Her aerial game matters in both boxes, including the stoppage-time Olympic winner against France in 2024. She gives Canada a defender who can protect a lead and still be sent forward when a goal is needed.
Research and further reading
The club journey
- Apollon Ladies
- Bordeaux
- Olympique Lyonnais
- FC Bayern Munich
