The Seattle Sounders Women announced today that they have signed Canadian National Team star forward Brittany Baxter (née : Timko) for the 2014 W-League Season.

Brittnay Baxter (Right, #17) has been called up by the Canadian Women’s National Team for the May 8th friendly against the US in Winnipeg, MB.

Baxter, 29, hails from Vancouver, British Columbia and joined the Canadian National Team in 2002 at the age of 16, coming up through the Vancouver Whitecaps Women organization. It was a pretty successful debut as the Canucks would go on to take Silver at the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. She would move on to play for the University of Nebraska (2003-2007) where she was named “Big 12 Player of the Year,” and “Third-Team NSCAA All-American” both in 2004 and 2005.

Her professional career would see her travel the globe, playing for the upstart Melbourne Victory in the inaugural season of the Australian Women’s League in 2008 where she made 9 appearances with 2 goals. Baxter would then shift to Sweden’s Damallsvenskan league in 2009/10, suiting up for Piteå IF where she made 7 appearances for the squad.

“We are delighted to add a talented player like Brittany to our squad. As an international with over 100 caps for her country, she brings technical quality, and experience to the group. Her knowledge of the game will also benefit the young players that we have in the team.” – Sounders Women Head Coach and GM, Hubert Busby Jr.

For the Canadian National Team she has been instrumental from the start. She assisted Canada to a fourth place finish at the World Cup USA in 2003, was awarded the “Golden Boot” at the 2004 U-19 Women’s World Championships, reached the quarter-final phase at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and won the 2011 Cyprus Cup. Her most notable accomplishment was winning bronze with the Canadian side at the 2012 London Olympics. Baxter has netted 5 goals for “Big Red“, has 123 appearances (with 79 starts) and became only the seventh woman to make 100 appearances for Canada.

This is a great signing for all parties involved. For the Sounders Women (1 – 2 – 0 preseason) it adds an experienced, world savvy forward/midfielder to help bring along the younger players who are still learning the ropes. While still in preseason form, this is a team that has not looked like the powerhouse of old, allowing a goal per match and being shut out twice. The veteran presence of Baxter will help solidify the midfield and orchestrate a more balanced counter attack. For the Canadian Women’s Team, it brings her much needed playing time ahead of the 2015 Women’s World Cup taking place in Canada. It will also provide the opportunity to mentor the young Canucks on the team, grooming them for National call-ups. Overall this is an excellent signing that has massive upside heading in to the Sounders Women`s season opener against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat on May 23rd. The Rave Green just got a little more Maple Leaf Red.

The U.S. and Canada have faced each other once before in Winnipeg, with the USA posting a 4-1 victory on July 27, 1990.

You can catch Brittany Baxter and all the rest of the Canadian Women’s Team as they take on our rivals… Sydney Leroux‘s US Team. The match takes place next Thursday, May 8th from Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba (one of the host venues for the WWC) and has sold over 25,000 tickets so far. The game will be broadcast live on SportsNet One (Canada), ESPN3 (USA) & ESPNW.com at 17.00 PT.