VANCOUVER, BC (November 6, 2026) - After winning 2026 Forward of the Year on Wednesday and being named to the Team of the Season on Thursday, the Northern Super League (NSL) announced on Friday Vancouver Rise FC forward Jessica De Filippo has been voted 2026 NSL Player of the Year.

"This has been a season of growth and learnings for me, and I am very proud of how far I’ve come," said De Filippo on her award. "I am so grateful for the journey and for all those who have been in my corner along the way, and I'm excited for what's next." 

This completes a sweep of awards for De Filippo this year, having secured the NSL Golden Boot on October 26. The talismanic forward has been crucial to Rise FC’s successes this year, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists to help the defending champion Rise FC clinch back-to-back playoff berths. 

It's been a long-time coming for De Filippo, who began her football journey in Quebec with local clubs CS Saint-Lazare and Lakeshore SC before playing college soccer with the University of Louisville Cardinals and University of Arkansas Razorbacks, where she scored 16 goals in 52 collegiate appearances. 

The forward then began her pro career in Europe in 2023, playing for German Frauen-Bundesliga side Turbine Potsdam and Spanish Liga F club Sporting de Huelva before coming back to Canada in 2024 to play for the then-Whitecaps FC Girls Elite during the League1 BC season, League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship, and Concacacaf W Champions Cup.

De Filippo made nine appearances for the ‘Caps that season, scoring twice in the team's Inter-Provincial Championship semifinal win over Calgary Blizzard, and starting all five of their 2024 Concacaf W Champions Cup matches. 

After the birth of Vancouver Rise FC and the NSL, De Filippo was one of Rise FC’s first signings. She scored her first goal for Rise FC on May 11, 2025, scoring a header in the 94th minute to earn a last-gasp 1-1 draw vs. AFC Toronto. The striker finished the inaugural season scoring seven goals and registering three assists as Rise FC won the NSL Championship, leading her to be selected as Rise FC’s Offensive MVP. 

De Filippo and Rise FC now turn their attention to the NSL Playoffs, as they hope to overturn a 3-0 deficit in Montreal this weekend against Montreal Roses FC on Sunday, November 8 at 2 p.m. PCT.