Toronto WNBA team
| Toronto WNBA team | |
|---|---|
| League | WNBA |
| Founded | 2026 |
| History | Toronto WNBA team 2026–future |
| Arena | Coca-Cola Coliseum |
| Capacity | 8,500 |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Ownership | Larry Tanenbaum (via Kilmer Sports Inc.) |
The Toronto WNBA team is a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The team is scheduled to begin play in 2026 as a member of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
History[edit]
On 10 May 2024, it was reported that Toronto was awarded a WNBA expansion franchise. It is expected to begin play in the 2026 season.[1][2]
The team will become the 14th in the WNBA and the first to be based outside the United States. The team will be owned by Kilmer Sports Inc., which is led by Toronto-based billionaire Larry Tanenbaum. He is a minority owner and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), which owns fellow professional Toronto sports teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors.[2] Tanenbaum originally pursued the WNBA venture through MLSE, though other members of the board turned it down.[1] CBC.ca reported a source stating the WNBA expansion franchise is expected to play at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, an 8,500-seat arena at Exhibition Place that has hosted most Toronto Marlies AHL games since 2005.[1][3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Ahmed, Shireen (10 May 2024). "Toronto awarded WNBA expansion team to begin play in 2026". CBC.ca. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Toronto expansion team to join WNBA in 2026, per reports". ESPN. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Promoter Guide" (PDF). coca-colacoliseum.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.