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 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.