Jordyn Listro’s Journey: From Medical Sales to Soccer Stardom

Jordyn Listro’s career has taken her from selling medical devices to representing Canada on the soccer field. Born in Toronto, Listro began her professional journey in Spain before making her mark in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with teams such as the Orlando Pride and Kansas City. Her path has been filled with challenges and triumphs as she continues to pursue her passion for soccer.

After making her debut for the Canadian national team, Listro earned two caps during the SheBelieves Cup in February 2021. She contributed to a narrow 1-0 victory over Argentina and played a role in a 2-0 loss to Brazil. Currently, at the age of 30, she serves as the captain of Tampa Bay Sun FC, where she led the team to win the inaugural USL Gainbridge Super League championship in June 2023.

Listro’s journey has not been without obstacles. Following a lack of professional opportunities, she took a hiatus from soccer between 2018 and 2019. Reflecting on her accomplishments, she stated, “I’m proud of the things that I’ve accomplished, for sure. 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.”

The forward’s early soccer experiences included representing Canada at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan alongside notable players such as Kailen Sheridan and Kadeisha Buchanan. After her youth career, Listro attended the University of South Florida, where she made a school-record 82 appearances from 2013 to 2016. Despite her efforts, she went undrafted in the NWSL after her senior year, which saw the Bulls fail to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

In June 2017, she signed with UD Tenerife in Spain. Despite her love for the sport, she found it challenging to adjust to life abroad. “It was hard to be that far away from family and friends when you can’t speak the language,” she recalled. After six months, Listro returned home, taking a break from soccer and entering the medical device industry, where she sold implants for anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff surgeries.

A chance encounter reignited her passion for soccer when a surgeon she had been working with invited her to participate in a five-a-side winter league. “Every week I would go play with the surgeons,” she said with a laugh. This experience led her to reconnect with her former college coach, who subsequently informed the Orlando Pride about Listro’s potential.

In the fall of 2020, Listro attended an open tryout with the Pride, which she viewed as her opportunity to return to professional soccer. She remarked, “I knew 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.” Her determination paid off, as she signed a short-term contract for the 2020 Fall Series, earning a one-year contract in January 2021 with an option for a second year.

The journey took another turn when Listro was traded to the expansion Kansas City team in March 2021. Despite her contributions to the national team, she was not selected for the Tokyo Olympics. She eventually returned to Orlando in May 2022 but parted ways with the club after the 2023 season when her contract was not renewed.

Throughout her career, Listro has learned the importance of being in the right club environment. “Your club environment is where you spend the most time. So you have to make sure that you’re happy there,” she explained. “The national team is always a bonus. I kind of had it the other way around for a long time.”

Now based in Florida, Listro enjoys the support of her husband, Cristian DiMarco, a professional golfer who recently made his debut on the Korn Ferry Tour. Their shared journey in athletics has provided a strong foundation as they support each other’s careers.

As she continues to thrive in the USL League, Listro remains hopeful about the future. “Wearing a Toronto jersey, for sure, that’s something that would excite me,” she said, expressing her desire to represent Canada again. Her story exemplifies resilience, determination, and a commitment to pursuing one’s passion, regardless of the obstacles faced along the way.