A Canadian's Perspective on the New Toronto Franchise
Toronto is home to a new WNBA expansion franchise and will tip off in the 2026 season.
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Two weeks ago, CBC News reported that the city of Toronto would be getting a new WNBA franchise. The league made the official announcement at a press conference which included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert, Larry Tanenbaum (the owner of the WNBA team), Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.
The new Toronto team, which will be the league’s 14th franchise and is scheduled to start play in 2026, will play their majority of games at Coca-Cola Coliseum, an 8,700-person arena inside of the Canadian National Exhibition. Tanenbaum said that the team will also play games at Scotiabank Arena as well as cities across Canada, such as Vancouver and Montreal.
As a resident of the Greater Toronto Area and someone who has watched the WNBA since 2008, I could not be more thrilled about this announcement. I have wanted a WNBA team in Toronto ever since Candace Parker’s brilliant rookie season inspired me to watch this highly competitive and entertaining league. My dream has now become reality, and I am fully confident that the Toronto franchise will succeed and flourish. It will take time to grow a strong fan base, but I know they can do it. I’ve seen how the city has supported the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. I’ve also seen the country’s support for the league during the WNBA Canada Games. Toronto has the money and the resources to foster a successful WNBA franchise.
Last year, I attended the first-ever WNBA Canada Game, and it was awesome. The energy generated by the capacity crowd inside the arena was contagious. While covering the game for Her Hoop Stats, I saw so many media members, a clear indication of the level of interest in the WNBA in Toronto. This year, the WNBA Canada Game was held in Edmonton, Alberta, and it was also a sellout. As is the case in the United States, women’s basketball in Canada is rapidly growing.
This isn’t just Toronto’s WNBA team. This is Canada’s WNBA team. I for one can’t wait!
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.