Earlier this month, Vancouver Rise FC fans witnessed a moment nearly eight months in the making. 

Canadian defender Kennedy Faulknor took the pitch, marking a triumphant return from a challenging journey. 

This is the raw, honest, and uplifting story of resilience, mental strength, and the power of community 

The Day Luck Changed 

Flash back to the morning of September 19, 2025, and things couldn’t be much better for Faulknor.  

The Scarborough, Ontario native had just gotten into a good rhythm in the team, having featured in 10 consecutive matches and playing an important role in Rise FC’s record-setting eight match unbeaten run. It was a period where spirits and confidence were high.  

Unfortunately, on that day, luck would change. Faulknor took a blow to the head in training, just a day before Rise FC’s next match.  

It didn’t take too much time for Faulknor to realize that the injury was a familiar one: her third concussion of her young career.  

The realization of yet another concussion was difficult to bear for Faulknor, but one that she has faced before.  

“I remember afterwards, calling my mom and crying because I was like ‘not again’, but I just tried to take it day-by-day.”  

The Battles from the Past 

Faulknor first had to deal with a concussion when she was 16 years old. She had just finished training with the Canadian senior national team as they were prepping for the 2016 Olympics, having been spotted by staff as a youngster with plenty of potential. She was also a shoe-in to be part of Canada’s U-17 team at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.  

However, in a match for the U-17s against Haiti in the 2016 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, Faulknor suffered what was initially believed to be a mild concussion that sidelined her for that tournament. She expected that she would return soon.  

But then reality set in. As public education on concussions has become more prevalent, we have learned that coming back from a concussion should never be rushed, and symptoms need to be handled carefully.  

“I remember being devastated,” she explained on an episode of her new podcast Kick it with Ken. “Weeks go by, and I’m still not really able to go to school, having headaches every day.” 

Weeks turned into months as Faulknor ended up sidelined for over a year.  

“I remember being miserable because I was watching my U-17 World Cup go by and I can’t be a part of it, watching the Olympics and missing that opportunity too.”  

Confronting Reality 

Overcoming the disappointment, Faulknor was able to make a return to the pitch.  

Shortly after being cleared, she went to UCLA and had a fruitful college career before getting the opportunity to start her professional career with Canberra United in Australia at the end of 2022.  

However, a second concussion came, bringing back bad memories.  

But it also proved a turning point in her perspective. 

“I had to think that, if I don’t play again, who is Kennedy outside the sport?,” she recalled. “I really had to just dive deeper into that and just accept that this is what I’m going through right now and how can I just be positive and make the best out of it.” 

“Once I started to do that, things changed for me.” 

With a renewed outlook, Faulknor also began to see better results.  

She found doctors that were able to get her the right treatment, and she was able to go back home to reconnect with friends and family that loved and supported her. That familial support boosted her recovery.  

Positive momentum continued for Kennedy when she got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of Vancouver Rise FC’s inaugural season in the new Northern Super League, the first women’s professional soccer league in her home country. 

Taking It Day by Day 

Now, after nearly eight months of recovery, Faulknor is back doing what she loves the most: playing on the pitch. And she wants others who have struggled through concussions to know that she has been there too, and she knows how they may be feeling.  

“It’s really hard to wrap your head around [your concussion], because if you tear an ACL or break your leg, people can physically see it. But when you show up day in and day out and people can’t see how much pain you're in, it's tough.”  

Faulknor has learned that, through every struggle, relying on the support around you is important.

“I really trusted the staff who were just working with me day by day,” she described. “And I think having that group of injured players who were just remaining positive and lifting each other up, to lean on and understand what each other were going through, really helped.” 

Speaking Out and Showing Out 

That’s one of the reasons why Faulknor is so outspoken about mental health, and what motivated her to start her Kick it with Ken podcast.  

She’s doing the work off the pitch so that she can be a voice for people who are going through what she has endured. The voice that she didn’t see herself, all those years ago. 

“You just have to really focus on yourself and control the things you can control,” she explained as advice for others that may be in her position. “Whether it's your vision therapy, or rehab, just focus on that stuff. It’s okay to take time for yourself and say no to other things. You have to put yourself first.”  

You can check out Faulknor’s podcast Kick it with Ken on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcast.