The WNBA formally introduced its growth to Canada on Thursday morning. Toronto, chosen because the league’s 14th staff, will start play in 2026.
It is official. After months of hypothesis, Canada is formally the house of the newest WNBA growth staff. Though Toronto was chosen as the subsequent WNBA metropolis, staff president Teresa Resch made a really clear assertion.
“This is not simply Toronto’s staff. That is Canada’s staff.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert introduced Thursday morning Toronto has been chosen because the 14th staff. The league’s first worldwide staff, Toronto, is slated to start its augural season in 2026. First reported by CBCSports Shireen Ahmed, the WNBA formally confirmed the information in the present day.
“Bringing a WNBA staff to Toronto represents an necessary milestone for our league as we proceed to increase each domestically and outdoors the USA,” stated WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an official press launch.
The information would not come as a shock. Together with the expansion of girls’s basketball have come elevated alternatives. Along with constitution flights, the league is continuous to broaden. Whereas the 2024 rookie draft class is particular, the rise of the WNBA has been well-documented for a while. The most recent staff arrives on the heels of the profitable 2023 season. With the distinctive expertise persevering with to pour in, the WNBA wants extra roster spots. The addition of growth groups will solely resolve that subject. One of the vital aggressive leagues in sports activities, the league solely has 144 spots, which makes it tough to accommodate the entire expertise. It basically boils down to produce and demand.
We’re excited in regards to the progress of the league. The WNBA’s 14th staff has been granted to the town of Toronto!
🎥: @WNBA pic.twitter.com/xN15fao5XM
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) Could 23, 2024
In a league-wide presser, Engelbert addressed the roster spot points. Typically referring to her financial mannequin, the Commissioner has robust plans to construct past Toronto and Golden State. The truth is, she’s set a purpose to create practically 48 roster spots and 4 extra groups by 2028.
Getting into a brand new period, the WNBA noticed record-breaking viewership and attendance. With viewers up 21 p.c from the 2022 season, the league noticed attendance enhance by practically 16 p.c. Now in its twenty seventh season, the league is hovering.
Poised for takeoff, the WNBA has been steadily rising over time. With the 2024 season simply underway, the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever’s matchup drew 1.71 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA sport ever broadcast on ABC.
Though the staff doesn’t have a reputation, based on Raptors sideline report Savanna Hamilton, Toronto’s WNBA staff president Teresa Ranch is opening to ideas. The truth is, she hopes the emblem can “signify everybody and girls strongly.”
As for the venue, house video games will probably be performed at Coca-Cola Coliseum, which holds 8,700 spectators in downtown Toronto. It’s anticipated extra video games will probably be held at Scotiabank Area, house of the Toronto Raptors.
Enlargement has all the time been an integral a part of Englebert’s plan, and it is lastly coming to fruition. Clear about her plans to develop the league, Engelbert has completed so methodically and meticulously. Immediately’s information comes simply 9 days after the latest growth staff, Golden State Valkyries, introduced its identify and branding.
With the information, the 14th staff will owned and operated by Kilmer Sports activities Ventures. Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports activities Ventures, brings enterprise and championship expertise to this new enterprise. A member of the NBA Board of Governors, Tanenbaum can be the Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure. Within the enterprise for practically 30 years, Tanenbaum was a part of the Toronto Raptors 2019 Championship title run. In an official press launch, Engelbert expressed her laudation for Tanenbaum.
You heard it right here first 🤩
Commissioner Engelbert has formally introduced our thrilling growth to the 6ix
Welcome to the W, @WNBA_Toronto 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/NC5wJopwAF
— WNBA (@WNBA) Could 23, 2024
“With Larry Tanenbaum’s distinguished file of main profitable sports activities franchises and Toronto’s enchantment as a dynamic, numerous metropolis that cares deeply in regards to the sport of basketball, we’re assured that this new staff will thrive as a first-class WNBA group and turn out to be an awesome supply of inspiration and assist for the Toronto-area neighborhood and throughout Canada,” stated Engelbert.
With the historic information, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was current, together with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and Ontario Premier, Doug Ford.
Dedicated to rising the ladies’s sport, the staff introduced a brand new state-of-the-art coaching observe facility will probably be constructed. A difficulty in years previous was that many gamers did not even have names on their lockers. Along with Toronto, Seattle and Las Vegas have invested closely of their gamers with cutting-edge observe amenities. It is solely a matter of time the place each athlete get’s the correct coaching and restoration facilities within the league.
Girls’s sports activities is right here, and it is solely anticipated to rise. The truth is, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has formally declared Could 23 as WNBA Day in Toronto. After the arrival of Engelbert, the league has solely been on the rise. Negotiating the CBA, including constitution flights, and increasing the league to 2 new cities- the long run is brilliant for the WNBA. It will not be excellent, however adjustments are taking place.
Followers who want to purchase season-tickets can achieve this by inserting a deposit at WNBA.com/Toronto.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a deal with the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
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