Current:Home > InvestWNBA heads to Toronto with first international team as league expands -BeyondWealth Learning
WNBA heads to Toronto with first international team as league expands
View
Date:2025-04-15 08:42:51
Toronto will now be the new home of a WNBA team, the first franchise outside of the United States. Today the Women's National Basketball Association announced it is expanding to Canada, awarding Toronto an expansion team set to begin playing in 2026. The team name has yet to be announced.
Toronto nearly received unanimous approval with the WNBA board voting 13-0 and the NBA board voting 29-1.The team will be owned and operated by Larry Tanenbaum-led Kilmer Sports Ventures, who paid $115 million for the team. Tanenbaum is also the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors, NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and the MLS' Toronto FC.
Speaking at the news conference today, Tanenbaum said women's sports have arrived. "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 is expected to play its home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, which has 8,700 seats. Tanenbaum said the team will also play in Vancouver and Montreal. They also could have additional games at the Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto will be the WNBA's 14th franchise, as the Golden State Valkyries are set to start playing next season. "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 support of women's basketball on the rise, several cities expressed interest in launching a team after the most recent draft class. With the league selecting Caitlin Clark as the No. 1 overall pick amongst LSU's Angel Reese and South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso, there have been record numbers of viewership and attendance across the league. Engelbert said the league is expected to grow to 16 teams by 2028.
Teresa Resch, a former Toronto Raptors executive who has previously worked as the vice president of basketball operations and player development, is set to be named as the new team's president.
"It's official: Canada is getting a WNBA team! This landmark deal will give opportunities to our remarkable athletes across the country, and on the biggest stage," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. "I can't wait to see our Canadian women win on the court."
- In:
- WNBA
veryGood! (61471)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Here's the Reason Why Goldie Hawn Never Married Longtime Love Kurt Russell
- Throw the Best Pool Party of the Summer with These Essentials: Floats, Games, Music, & More
- Cleveland’s Tree Canopy Is in Trouble
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Students and Faculty at Ohio State Respond to a Bill That Would Restrict College Discussions of Climate Policies
- Environmental Justice Advocates Urge California to Stop Issuing New Drilling Permits in Neighborhoods
- Megan Fox's Bikini Photo Shoot on a Tree Gets Machine Gun Kelly All Fired Up
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- From the Frontlines of the Climate Movement, A Message of Hope
Ranking
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Climate Change Enables the Spread of a Dangerous Flesh-Eating Bacteria in US Coastal Waters, Study Says
- In the Florida Panhandle, a Black Community’s Progress Is Threatened by a Proposed Liquified Natural Gas Plant
- UN Considering Reforms to Limit Influence of Fossil Fuel Industry at Global Climate Talks
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Climate Change Wiped Out Thousands of the West’s Most Iconic Cactus. Can Planting More Help a Species that Takes a Century to Mature?
- Restoring Seabird Populations Can Help Repair the Climate
- Save 70% On Coach Backpacks for School, Travel, Commuting, and More
Recommendation
At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
An Agricultural Drought In East Africa Was Caused by Climate Change, Scientists Find
Mining Critical to Renewable Energy Tied to Hundreds of Alleged Human Rights Abuses
‘Rewilding’ Parts of the Planet Could Have Big Climate Benefits
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
When an Actor Meets an Angel: The Love Story of Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin
How Daniel Ellsberg Opened the Door to One of the Most Consequential Climate Stories of Our Time
With Revenue Flowing Into Its Coffers, a German Village Broadens Its Embrace of Wind Power
Like
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Global Warming Fueled Both the Ongoing Floods and the Drought That Preceded Them in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna Region
- Q&A: Linda Villarosa Took on the Perils of Medical Racism. She Found Black Americans ‘Live Sicker and Die Quicker’