The WNBA is expanding to Canada!
While the news was first reported by Shireen Ahmed at CBC Sports on May 10, the WNBA made the official historic announcement today of confirming Toronto as the home of its latest new franchise team. Toronto will become the league’s first-ever team outside of the United States.
“I am honored to officially announce that we have awarded the city of Toronto the 14th WNBA franchise,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during a press conference that brought out Drake, Toronto Raptors favorite Kyle Lowry, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
There’s no Toronto team name or logo yet, but to get you excited, here’s a list of 5 things you need to know about the new team coming to Canada:
1. Toronto Will be the League’s 14th Team
The WNBA is expanding quickly! This is great news, considering the league is surging in popularity and doesn’t yet have enough room for all the existing talent with its current roster of 12 teams.
The Golden State Valkyries, previously announced and starting play in 2025, is the league’s 13th team. Toronto will bring the league total up to 14 teams.
2. The Team is Set to Begin Play in 2026
If you’re excited about the tipoff in Toronto, you’ll have to be patient. The Toronto franchise is set to begin play in the 2026 season.
This is one year after the league’s 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries team out of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, will start play.
3. The Team Will Play Home Games at Coca-Cola Coliseum
The historic Coca-Cola Coliseum is conveniently located on the grounds of Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, which has hosted bands like The Doors, The Who, and Genesis. Opened in 1922, the intimate venue now holds 8,700 people. In my opinion, this is a great size for a WNBA team.
The team may opt to play some games at the larger Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (home of the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs) during bigger matchups that draw more fans, as well as in other arenas throughout Canada like Vancouver and Montreal.
4. You Can Already Place a Deposit for Season Tickets
If you live near Toronto and want to make sure you get the best seats, you’ll be happy to hear that the team is already accepting non-refundable deposits through Ticketmaster for memberships ($50) and 2026 season tickets ($100).
The earlier you get on the waitlist, the better position you will be in to select the best season tickets.
Also, being a member will come with different benefits than being a season ticket holder, so keep that in mind as you consider whether you should put a deposit down for both.
5. The New Owner Paid $115 to Form the Team
The new Toronto team is owned by Kilmer Sports Ventures, led by billionaire Larry Tanenbaum. The ownership group, created specifically to run the team, paid $115 million to purchase the team.
Toronto sports fans will already recognize the name Tanenbaum because he’s also the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and the Toronto MLS and Canadian Football League teams.
Learn More About The WNBA
Visit our WNBA fan guide to discover more about the league and its players, including the average WNBA player height, and which player is the WNBA logo.
