The WNBA is planning on expanding to Toronto, Canada with a new franchise. The announcement was made by Canadian news outlet CBC, who cited four unnamed sources with knowledge of the deal. The Kilmer Group, led by Canadian billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, will reportedly own the team and it is set to begin playing in May 2026. This would make Toronto the first WNBA franchise outside of the United States.
The WNBA has been considering expanding to new cities for some time, with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioning Toronto, Denver, Nashville, Portland, and the South Florida area as potential locations at the league’s recent draft. Engelbert stated her hope to expand to 16 teams by the 2028 season.
The new Toronto team will reportedly play at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, which currently hosts the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies and the Premier Women’s Hockey League’s Toronto franchise. This follows two successful pre-season games held in Canada in the past two years, including one in Toronto featuring the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx, both of which sold out their venues.
Charles Johnson, a spokesman for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, confirmed that they “are exploring opportunities related to the WNBA.” However, the WNBA itself has yet to officially announce the expansion. The league did state that it continues to discuss expansion with various parties, and any new franchises require approval from the league’s Board of Governors.
This expansion is part of a broader effort by the WNBA to grow the league. Last week, the league announced plans to provide charter flights for all teams beginning in the upcoming season, making travel easier for players and helping to reduce costs associated with airfare and lodging. This change is expected to benefit the WNBA’s Canadian teams, as the cost of transportation and accommodation can prove prohibitive due to the geographic distance between the US and Canada.
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