Toronto will reportedly be awarded an WNBA growth franchise which is able to start play in 2026, in step with Shireen Ahmed of CBC.
The franchise shall be owned by means of Kilmer Sports activities Inc., led by means of billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, who helped carry the NBA’s Raptors to the town and is chairman of Maple Leafs Sports activities and Leisure, which owns the NHL’s Maple Leafs, MLS facet Toronto FC, the CFL’s Argos, and the AHL’s Marlies.
An reputable announcement is anticipated on Might 23.
Toronto would be the WNBA’s 14th workforce following the Golden State franchise that can input the league in 2025.
Consistent with CBC, the brand new Toronto workforce would now not play at Scotiabank Enviornment. As an alternative, they’re going to tip off at Coca-Cola Coliseum, an 8,000-seat enviornment this is house to the Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ most sensible minor league workforce, and is owned by means of MLSE.
Toronto has lengthy been a selection goal
As communicate of WNBA growth has persevered, Toronto has at all times been a town discussed a few of the favorites to land a workforce, and Canadian lovers have proven up.
The WNBA has performed a preseason sport in Canada in every of the previous two seasons. In 2023, the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx performed in entrance of a sold-out crowd of nineteen,923 lovers at Scotiabank Enviornment in Toronto. Remaining week, the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Typhoon noticed 16,655 other people fill Rogers Position in Edmonton.
Including the primary skilled WNBA franchise in Canada would most effective assist the game’s expansion within the nation as Michael Bartlett, president of Basketball Canada, instructed CBC in March.
“Two explicit issues would assist toughen girls’s basketball in Canada,” Bartlett mentioned. “A home league for ladies, after which a certified WNBA workforce that might have the similar lightning rod impact because the Raptors did.”