Kaila Novak
Kaila Lillyanna "Kai" Novak is a Canadian soccer player who plays for AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League.
Early life
Novak began playing youth soccer at age four with St. Thomas SC. She later played with FC London. She later joined the Ontario REX program.College career
In 2020, Novak began attending the University of California, Los Angeles, where she played for the [UCLA Bruins women's soccer|women's Association football|soccer team]. On March 26, 2021, she scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-1 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils. After her first season, she was named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team. She was named to the Academic Honour Roll for both her seasons. She opted out of playing soccer for her senior season.Club career
In 2016, she began playing with FC London in League1 Ontario.In August 2024, Novak signed with English club Durham in the Women's Championship. She scored her first goal against the Blackburn Rovers. She departed the club following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, having scored 3 goals across 24 appearances for the club. Following her departure from Durham, she spent time training with London City Lionesses, Crystal Palace FC, and Angel City FC, also playing in the 7v7 The Soccer Tournament 2025 with Angel City 7s in 2025.
In September 2025, she signed with Northern Super League club AFC Toronto. She made her first start for the club in a 2-1 win over Calgary Wild FC on October 4, 2025, providing the assist for Toronto's first goal, and receiving a red card in the 62nd minute. On January 15, 2026, it was announced that she had signed a contract extension to keep her with Toronto through 2026.
International career
Novak was born in Canada, to a Czech father and an English mother.In June 2017, she was called up to the Canadian national program for the first time, for a camp with the Canada U17 team. The following month, she was named to the roster for a Four Nations tournament in China, where she appeared in all three matches. In April 2018, she was named to the roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship. She scored two goals in the first match in a 3-0 victory over Bermuda U17. However, after the first two matches of the tournament, the tournament was suspended due to riots in Nicaragua, with her later returning to the squad for the remainder of the tournament in June in the United States, ultimately winning a bronze medal. Afterwards, she played with the squad at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
In July 2019, Novak was named to the Canada U20 team for a series of three friendly matches in England. She was then named to the roster for the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship and the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.