WNBA sets date for historic game ahead of Toronto debut

The WNBA will be making history on August 15th as the Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm go head-to-head in Vancouver, just before the Toronto Tempo make their debut in 2026. This game in Vancouver will be the first regular-season game played outside of the United States, hosted at Rogers Arena, showcasing the league’s commitment to expanding into Canada.

“As we get ready to establish a permanent presence in Canada with a team in Toronto, this game and our ongoing engagement efforts are a testament to the exciting growth of women’s basketball in Canada,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated in a recent announcement.

The WNBA has seen tremendous fan support during recent exhibition games in Canada, with Toronto and Edmonton both selling out when they hosted games in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The Vancouver game will mark the fifth international game in WNBA history, following preseason matches in Monterrey, Mexico (2004) and Manchester, England (2011).

WNBA Expanding Globally

Expanding internationally is a strategy many professional sports leagues are adopting, with the NFL hosting multiple games abroad in recent years. The Vancouver game showcases the WNBA’s growing popularity and sets the stage for the Tempo’s entry into the league. The Tempo will be the first WNBA franchise outside of the U.S., representing all of Canada, with potential games in Vancouver and Montreal.

This game holds special significance for Atlanta Dream’s Laeticia Amihere, the only Canadian player in either team, giving her a unique opportunity to play in her home country.

Seattle’s participation in this game makes sense geographically, being close to the Pacific Northwest. The Storm, led by veteran players, are aiming for another playoff appearance after reaching the playoffs in eight of the last ten seasons. Meanwhile, Atlanta, under new head coach Karl Smesko, is looking for their third consecutive playoff berth for the first time since 2014.

The Vancouver game comes at a crucial time for the WNBA following record viewership in 2024. With new media partners NBC and Amazon joining Disney/ESPN in a long-term broadcast deal, the league is primed to capitalize on this growing interest.

Details about ticket sales, broadcast coverage, and game timing will be announced soon. Fans can sign up for presale notifications at WNBACanadaGame.com.