WNBA Awards Expansion Team to Toronto
The team will begin play in 2026 as the association's 14th franchise
Posted On: May 23, 2024 By :The WNBA will expand to Canada, awarding Toronto an expansion team that will begin play in the 2026 season and become the first team in the league outside of the United States.
Kilmer Sports Ventures, led by Larry Tanenbaum, is paying $115 million for the team. Tanenbaum is chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, MLS’ Toronto FC and other professional sports franchises.
“Today is a game-changing day not only for women’s basketball but also for sports in Canada,” said Tanenbaum. “This franchise will be Canada’s team and we are so excited to unite the country and inspire pride and passion in fans from coast to coast.”
Toronto will play at 8,700-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum at Exhibition Place and will have the ability to move up to the Scotiabank Arena on occasion. The team has also committed to building a new practice facility that will be dedicated to the team and community initiatives. Tanenbaum said the team also will play some games in Vancouver and Montreal.
“Bringing a WNBA team to Toronto represents an important milestone for our league as we continue to expand both domestically and outside the United States,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “With Larry Tanenbaum’s distinguished record of leading successful sports franchises and Toronto’s appeal as a dynamic, diverse city that cares deeply about the game of basketball, we are confident that this new team will thrive as a first-class WNBA organization and become a great source of inspiration and support for the Toronto-area community and across Canada.”
Engelbert said WNBA exhibition games in Canada the past two seasons showed the passion of the fans in the country for women’s basketball.
“On behalf of the province of Ontario, I’m thrilled to welcome the first WNBA team in Canadian history to Toronto,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “The WNBA will be a fantastic addition to Ontario’s dynamic sports landscape, helping to increase tourism and inspire more women and girls to get involved in basketball.”
“Torontonians are excited to welcome our very own WNBA team,” added Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “This would not have been possible without the hard work of Canadian athletes who have created renewed enthusiasm and excitement for professional women’s sports. I cannot wait to cheer for our team and watch them bring home a WNBA championship.”
Engelbert also said she expects the league to get to 16 teams by 2028. The league has 12 teams, with the expansion Golden State Valkyries set to start play next year ahead of Toronto.
“We’ve already had a lot of interest and it got more tangible and serious from a fair amount of cities after the draft,” Engelbert said. “We are in a good position to get to 16 by certainly ’27-28.”
Posted in: Basketball, Latest News, Sports Organizations, Women's Sports