Toronto has officially been awarded a WNBA expansion team, the league made it official Thursday morning.
Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Ventures is paying $115 million for the team, per The Associated Press.
Tanenbaum is also the chairman and a minority owner of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. MLSE owns the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs, along with Toronto F.C., Toronto Marlies and Toronto Argonauts.
Tanenbaum talked about bringing Canada’s first WNBA team to Toronto, per AP:
“Our Toronto sports franchises are thriving but, we have been missing one critical piece — women’s professional sports. The world is finally taking notice of something that’s been there all along — the immense talent, passion and competition in women’s sports. So, once again, I saw an opportunity and knew we were in the right place at the right time to bring Canada’s first WNBA team to Toronto. And now we have, making sports history.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert chimed in about the league growing internationally, per AP:
“Growing internationally, I’ve been trying to think through next steps on a global platform. It helps us reach new audiences and bring in new partners. The thing I love about going to another country is that the young girls and boys get to see professional basketball for women is important, too.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, rapper Drake, Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes and former Raptors legend Kyle Lowry were all in attendance for the official announcement.
Former Raptors executive Teresa Resch is set to be named the new team’s president, per Rachel Brady of the Globe and Mail.
WNBA coming to Toronto
Toronto’s WNBA team which has yet to be named, is expected to play its first game in the 2026 season.
The team will play out of the 8,700-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum. They will also have the ability to move up to the 19,800-seat Scotiabank Arena on occasion, per John Chidley-Hill of CBC.
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