The WNBA formally introduced its growth to Canada on Thursday morning. Toronto, chosen because the league’s 14th group, will start play in 2026.
It is official. After months of hypothesis, Canada is formally the house of the most recent WNBA growth group. Though Toronto was chosen as the following WNBA metropolis, group president Teresa Resch made a really clear assertion.
“This is not simply Toronto’s group. That is Canada’s group.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert introduced Thursday morning Toronto has been chosen because the 14th group. The league’s first worldwide group, Toronto, is slated to start its augural season in 2026. First reported by CBCSports Shireen Ahmed, the WNBA formally confirmed the information as we speak.
“Bringing a WNBA group to Toronto represents an vital milestone for our league as we proceed to broaden each domestically and out of doors america,” mentioned WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an official press launch.
The information does not come as a shock. Together with the expansion of ladies’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 newest group 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 challenge. Some of the aggressive leagues in sports activities, the league solely has 144 spots, which makes it troublesome to accommodate all the expertise. It primarily boils down to provide and demand.
We’re excited concerning the development of the league. The WNBA’s 14th group 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 almost 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 improve by almost 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 recreation ever broadcast on ABC.
Though the group doesn’t have a reputation, in line with Raptors sideline report Savanna Hamilton, Toronto’s WNBA group president Teresa Ranch is opening to solutions. The truth is, she hopes the brand can “signify everybody and girls strongly.”
As for the venue, residence 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 Enviornment, residence 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 performed so methodically and meticulously. At this time’s information comes simply 9 days after the most recent growth group, Golden State Valkyries, introduced its identify and branding.
With the information, the 14th group 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 also be the Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure. Within the enterprise for almost 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 report of main profitable sports activities franchises and Toronto’s enchantment as a dynamic, numerous metropolis that cares deeply concerning the recreation of basketball, we’re assured that this new group will thrive as a first-class WNBA group and develop into an excellent supply of inspiration and help for the Toronto-area neighborhood and throughout Canada,” mentioned 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 recreation, the group introduced a brand new state-of-the-art coaching follow facility will probably be constructed. A problem 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 follow services. It is solely a matter of time the place each athlete get’s the right 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 shiny for the WNBA. It will not be excellent, however modifications are taking place.
Followers who want to purchase season-tickets can accomplish that 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 concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space together 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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