From selling medical devices to representing Canada, Listro has lived and learned

From selling medical devices to representing Canada, Jordyn Listro has lived and learned.

After starting her pro career in Spain, the Toronto-born midfielder played in the NWSL for the Orlando Pride and Kansas City. She has won two caps for Canada, starting in a 1-0 win over Argentina and coming off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Brazil — both at the SheBelieves Cup in February 2021. 

These days she captains Tampa Bay Sun FC, leading it to the inaugural USL Gainbridge Super League championship last June.

There have been bumps along the way, with a lack of professional opportunities forcing a hiatus from soccer in 2018-19.

Now 30, Listro is not done yet.

“I’m proud of the things that I’ve accomplished, for sure,” she said. “I’ve been able to play with my idols at Orlando and I had a really great time playing in the NWSL … I’ve jumped around a couple of teams but I’ve loved playing professionally and I want to continue to do so for as long as I can. And hopefully get back on the national team.”

And while she is enjoying her time with Tampa — which has become a second home — playing before family and friends in Canada would also be welcome.

“Wearing a Toronto jersey, for sure, that’s something that would excite me,” she said. 

Listro played for Canada at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan, alongside the likes of Kailen Sheridan, Ashley Lawrence, Quinn, Kadeisha Buchanan and Nichelle Prince.

She then attended South Florida, making a school-record 82 appearances (including 75 starts) from 2013 to 2016.

Undrafted by the NWSL after a senior year in which the Bulls failed to make the NCAA tournament, Listro signed with UD Tenerife, then Union Deportiva Granadilla Tenerife, in Spain in June 2017.

“I loved the soccer aspect. It was just hard to be that far away from family and friends, when you can’t speak the language and no one can really connect with you on the level you want them to connect with you on because of the language barrier.”

She returned home after six months and took a break from soccer.

“I didn’t want to, at all,” she said. “I always knew that I wanted to be a professional soccer player for as long as I can be, but there were no opportunities that existed. It was either you live abroad or you don’t play.”

Listro, who had earned a health sciences degree at South Florida, got a job in the medical device industry, selling implants for anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff surgeries. It was work, not play.

She got back into soccer thanks to one of the surgeons she had been working with. He invited her to join his side in a five-vs-five winter league.

“Every week I would go play with the surgeons,” she said with a laugh.

Rediscovering her love for the game, she started training again. And she reached out to her old college coach who told her counterpart at the Orlando Pride about Listro.

Orlando was interested, but only if Listro attended an open tryout.

“I knew that that was going to be probably my only chance of getting back to playing soccer in the U.S. So I gave it everything I could.”

It worked.

Listro joined the Pride on a short-term contract for the 2020 Fall Series (a mini-season due to the pandemic), earning a one-year contract in January 2021 with an option for a second year.

“It was, honestly, a crazy year,” said Listro, who went from selling medical devices to playing for Canada.

Things grew more complicated. 

Listro was traded to expansion Kansas City in March and, despite her time with Canada, did not make the Tokyo Olympic roster (18 players plus four alternates). She rejoined Orlando in May 2022, parting ways after the 2023 season when the club did not bring her back.

There have been plenty of learnings along the way.

Growing up her dream was to play for Canada. And early in her pro career, she was willing to do anything or go anywhere to get there. Then she realized just how important being at the right club is.

“Your club environment is where you spend the most time. So you have to make sure that you’re happy there. And that’s where you want to be first. And then the national team is always a bonus. And I kind of had it the other way around for a long time.”

Back in Florida — Tampa is one of nine teams in the USL League, whose regular season runs August through May — allowed Listro to reunite with husband Cristian DiMarco, an athlete in his own right.

DiMarco played in the RBC Canadian Open last June after finishing atop the leaderboard in the Final Qualifier at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. DiMarco, whose father Chris DiMarco currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, had made his professional golf debut two weeks earlier on the Korn Ferry Tour.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2026.