WNBA is returning to Vancouver this summer featuring Canada’s newest team

Vancouver hosted its first-ever WNBA game at Rogers Arena last summer.

Apparently, it went so well that the league will return to Vancouver for two games in 2026.

The WNBA released its schedule for the season on Tuesday, confirming that Vancouver will host the league’s newest teams.

Both the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire were added to the WNBA for this upcoming season, bringing the league up to 15 squads.

The new squads will duke it out at Rogers Arena for a game on Aug. 19.

Then, two days later, Toronto will host the defending WNBA Finals champion Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 21.

Tempo general manager and former WNBA player Monica Wright Rogers previously mentioned that Canada’s newest professional expansion team would play games outside of Toronto.

“This is so much more than a team,” Rogers said earlier this year. “It’s a movement to grow the game of women’s basketball in Canada.”

Among Toronto’s 22 home games, seven of them will be played outside of their primary home venue of Coca-Cola Stadium.

Aside from the back-to-back set in Vancouver, the Tempo will also play two games at the Bell Centre in Montreal, and three others at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

WNBA fans nearly sold out Rogers Arena the first time the league came to Vancouver. During a match between the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream, 15,892 fans attended the mid-August match.

Fans weren’t disappointed, as the tight game was tied with less than three minutes to go, before the Storm emerged with an 80-78 victory.

Not only that, but fans got to witness a baby race.

Perhaps if Vancouver has another strong showing with crowd support this summer, it could be the next city to get a WNBA franchise.

Tickets for these games have yet to go on sale, but those wanting to attend can visit the Tempo website to sign up for pre-sale information.

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