As preseason enters its final stretch, Vancouver Rise FC are beginning to look more complete.

After several weeks of international duty, players are returning to camp with competitive minutes under their belts and a clearer sense of where they stand individually. For a side preparing to defend a title, that timing carries weight.

Maithé López is among the latest to arrive. The loan signing joined up with the squad following a demanding period with Colombia, where she featured in the South American Under-20 Championship and scored twice as her side secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Her performances led to a senior call-up for the SheBelieves Cup, where she made her debut against Argentina and started the final against the United States. It is a rapid progression, and one that brings a different kind of readiness into the squad. The focus now shifts to how quickly that form translates into the team's structure and rhythm.

Jessika Cowart returns in a similar position, having started every match for the Philippines at the AFC Women's Asian Cup. While their run ended in the quarter-finals against Japan, a 2–0 play-off win over Uzbekistan secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Their campaign also confirmed a place in the 2028 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

For Cowart, the tournament reinforced her reliability across a sustained run of matches. For Rise FC, it strengthens a defensive unit that will be expected to carry consistency into the new season.

Head coach Anja-Heiner Møller pointed to the value of having the group back together, particularly after a period of testing the squad against stronger opposition.

"It's good to have players back from camp," she said. "With national team players coming back, I think we have a high competitive level in training, but we've had harder games against NWSL teams like Seattle Reign. We wanted to start at the highest level so we could see the fixes that we need to do, but it's been good and productive."

Those early matches provided context as much as challenge.

"There's something about the timing as well," Møller added. "They were ready to kick off the league, and that was our first game back, but as we progress, we can definitely compete in moments. A better matchup would be further into the season for us, but last time we played Portland as well, we are competitive."

Alongside returning internationals, new additions are beginning to shape how the team plays. Møller highlighted the influence of Mia Pante and Camila Reyes, particularly in how quickly they move the ball.

"These are players that are really good technically and used to playing quick soccer and thinking quick," she said. "Their anticipation in terms of where to be and passing on the first touch makes us play faster, so that's really good to see."

That increase in tempo is part of a broader shift within the squad. The foundation from last season remains, but the expectations have changed.

Midfielder Nikki Stanton acknowledged the balance between continuity and reset.

"It felt like business as usual," she said. "It's almost a little bit of pressure because the first year felt like things may not be what they need to be, but now that it's been a whole year, everyone needs to come in and hold each other to a different standard."

With personnel changes, that process is ongoing.

"We've had a lot of changes with personnel and just incorporating all of them and letting them know what it's all about," Stanton said.

Experience within the squad has helped guide that transition.

"We have a lot of older players that have played in other leagues, so there is a lot of leeway in the first one, and we've brought up a lot of things. People have worked a lot behind the scenes."

There is also a conscious effort to avoid relying too heavily on last season's success.

"We had a team meeting on habits we want to bring up every day," Stanton said. "Our goalie Jessica Wulf said that we can't compare our team now to last year. It's not like, 'oh, we won last year, we don't need to work as hard.' We acknowledge it, but this is a whole new year, and we have a target on our back."

That target becomes immediate.

Rise opens its Northern Super League season in less than a month against AFC Toronto, a rematch of last year's final.

"Of course, Toronto's going to want that championship back," Stanton added. "But sorry. I think it's going to be a really good first game."

With less than a month until their Northern Super League home opener, the focus now is on alignment. Rise FC will open their campaign against AFC Toronto in a rematch of last year's final, a fixture that immediately tests both preparation and intent.

There will also be a notable absence on the other side. Former captain Samantha Chang, who led Rise FC to the inaugural NSL title before joining AFC Toronto, is set to miss the season with an ACL injury.

The Diana B. Matheson Cup remains theirs to defend. The NSL Shield remains within reach.

What happens next will depend less on what Rise FC achieved last season and more on how quickly this version of the team comes together.