{"id":275469,"date":"2024-05-23T15:57:11","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T22:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/?p=275469"},"modified":"2024-05-23T16:03:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T23:03:16","slug":"the-wnba-set-to-expand-to-toronto-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/the-wnba-set-to-expand-to-toronto-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The WNBA set to expand to Toronto in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SaraJGamelli\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sarajanegamelli\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-tiktok  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@sarajanegamelli\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M16.708 0.027c1.745-0.027 3.48-0.011 5.213-0.027 0.105 2.041 0.839 4.12 2.333 5.563 1.491 1.479 3.6 2.156 5.652 2.385v5.369c-1.923-0.063-3.855-0.463-5.6-1.291-0.76-0.344-1.468-0.787-2.161-1.24-0.009 3.896 0.016 7.787-0.025 11.667-0.104 1.864-0.719 3.719-1.803 5.255-1.744 2.557-4.771 4.224-7.88 4.276-1.907 0.109-3.812-0.411-5.437-1.369-2.693-1.588-4.588-4.495-4.864-7.615-0.032-0.667-0.043-1.333-0.016-1.984 0.24-2.537 1.495-4.964 3.443-6.615 2.208-1.923 5.301-2.839 8.197-2.297 0.027 1.975-0.052 3.948-0.052 5.923-1.323-0.428-2.869-0.308-4.025 0.495-0.844 0.547-1.485 1.385-1.819 2.333-0.276 0.676-0.197 1.427-0.181 2.145 0.317 2.188 2.421 4.027 4.667 3.828 1.489-0.016 2.916-0.88 3.692-2.145 0.251-0.443 0.532-0.896 0.547-1.417 0.131-2.385 0.079-4.76 0.095-7.145 0.011-5.375-0.016-10.735 0.025-16.093z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">TikTok<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The WNBA officially announced its expansion to Canada on Thursday morning. Toronto, selected as the league's 14th team, will begin play in 2026. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/dsz7vodgjx60a.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/23121113\/Untitled-design-39.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-275474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsz7vodgjx60a.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/23121113\/Untitled-design-39.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dsz7vodgjx60a.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/23121113\/Untitled-design-39-810x540.jpg 810w, https:\/\/dsz7vodgjx60a.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/23121113\/Untitled-design-39-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo by Sara Jane Gamelli\/Ballislife<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It's official. After months of speculation, Canada is officially the home of the latest WNBA expansion team. Although Toronto was chosen as the next WNBA city, team president Teresa Resch made a very clear statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"This isn't just Toronto's team. This is Canada's team.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WNBA Commissioner<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnba.com\/news\/cathy-engelbert-named-wnba-commissioner\"> Cathy Engelbert<\/a> announced Thursday morning Toronto has been selected as the 14th team. The league's first international team, Toronto, is slated to begin its augural season in 2026. First reported by CBCSports Shireen Ahmed, the WNBA officially confirmed the news today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBringing a WNBA team to Toronto represents an important milestone for our league as we continue to expand both domestically and outside the United States,\u201d said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an official press release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The news doesn't come as a surprise. Along with the growth of women's basketball have come increased opportunities. In addition to charter flights, the league is continuing to broaden. While the 2024 rookie draft class is special, the rise of the WNBA has been well-documented for some time.  The latest team arrives on the heels of the successful 2023 season. With the exceptional talent continuing to pour in, the WNBA needs more roster spots. The addition of expansion teams will only resolve that issue. One of the most competitive leagues in sports, the league only has 144 spots, which makes it difficult to accommodate all of the talent. It essentially boils down to supply and demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We\u2019re excited about the growth of the league. The WNBA\u2019s 14th team has been granted to the city of Toronto! <br><br>\ud83c\udfa5: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WNBA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xN15fao5XM\">pic.twitter.com\/xN15fao5XM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ballislifewbb_\/status\/1793720701465276560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 23, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>In a league-wide presser, Engelbert addressed the roster spot issues. Often referring to her economic model, the Commissioner has strong plans to build beyond Toronto and Golden State. In fact, she's set a goal to create nearly 48 roster spots and four additional teams by 2028. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Entering a new era, the WNBA saw record-breaking viewership and attendance. With viewers up 21 percent from the 2022 season, the league saw attendance increase by nearly 16 percent. Now in its 27th season, the league is soaring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poised for takeoff, the WNBA has been steadily growing over time. With the 2024 season just underway, the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever's matchup drew 1.71 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game ever broadcast on ABC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the team does not have a name, according to Raptors sideline report Savanna Hamilton, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WNBA_Toronto\">Toronto's <\/a>WNBA team president Teresa Ranch is opening to suggestions. In fact, she hopes the logo can \"represent everyone and women strongly.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the venue, home games will be played at Coca-Cola Coliseum, which holds 8,700 spectators in downtown Toronto. It is expected additional games will be held at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Raptors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expansion has always been an integral part of Englebert's plan, and it's finally coming to fruition. Transparent about her plans to grow the league, Engelbert has done so methodically and meticulously. Today's news comes just nine days after the newest expansion team, Golden State Valkyries, announced its name and branding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the news, the 14th team will owned and operated by Kilmer Sports Ventures. Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, brings business and championship experience to this new venture.  A member of the NBA Board of Governors, Tanenbaum is also the Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. In the business for nearly 30 years, Tanenbaum was part of the Toronto Raptors 2019 Championship title run. In an official press release, Engelbert expressed her laudation for Tanenbaum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You heard it here first \ud83e\udd29<br><br>Commissioner Engelbert has officially announced our exciting expansion to the 6ix<br><br>Welcome to the W, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WNBA_Toronto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WNBA_Toronto<\/a> \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NC5wJopwAF\">pic.twitter.com\/NC5wJopwAF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WNBA\/status\/1793637220638761227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 23, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith Larry Tanenbaum\u2019s distinguished record of leading successful sports franchises and Toronto\u2019s appeal as a dynamic, diverse city that cares deeply about the game of basketball, we are confident that this new team will thrive as a first-class WNBA organization and become a great source of inspiration and support for the Toronto-area community and across Canada,\" said Engelbert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the historic news, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was present, along with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and Ontario Premier, Doug Ford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Committed to growing the women's game, the team announced a new state-of-the-art training practice facility will be built. An issue in years past was that many players didn't even have names on their lockers. In addition to Toronto, Seattle and Las Vegas have invested heavily in their players with state of the art practice facilities. It's only a matter of time where every athlete get's the proper training and recovery centers in the league. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women's sports is here, and it's only expected to rise. In fact, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has officially declared May 23 as WNBA Day in Toronto. After the arrival of Engelbert, the league has only been on the rise. Negotiating the CBA, adding charter flights, and expanding the league to two new cities- the future is bright for the WNBA. It may not be perfect, but changes are happening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Fans who wish to buy season-tickets can do so by placing a deposit at WNBA.com\/Toronto.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stay tuned for more related articles.<\/strong><em>&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/wnba-set-to-expand-to-the-bay-area\/\">Click here<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut\/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the&nbsp;University&nbsp;of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ballislifewbb\/\">Follow the movement on socials!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/x.com\/ballislifewbb_\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The WNBA has officially announced its expansion to Toronto, which will begin in 2026. There will now be 14 teams in the WNBA. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":275477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8316,1444,3176,6886,46250,3628,41240],"tags":[81,70,61,12987,47117,47116,46982],"featured":[],"class_list":["post-275469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-all-blogs","category-events","category-exclusive-videos","category-news","category-wnba","category-womens-basketball","tag-ballislife","tag-basketball","tag-toronto","tag-wnba","tag-wnbaexpansion-2","tag-wnbanews-2","tag-womensbasketball-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The WNBA set to expand to Toronto in 2026 - Ballislife.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The WNBA has officially announced its expansion to Toronto, which will begin in 2026. 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