Tempo aim to turn Vancouver into part of their home court
VANCOUVER — The Toronto Tempo arrive at Rogers Arena this weekend with ambitions that reach beyond two exhibition dates: the expansion franchise is probing Vancouver for lasting support as the WNBA grows its footprint in Canada.
Guard Brittney Sykes, who last season played for the Seattle Storm when the WNBA staged its first regular-season game outside the United States, said she expects an enthusiastic crowd and a chance to build a regional fan base. The Tempo open against fellow expansion side the Portland Fire on Friday and will face the reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, on Sunday.
On Saturday the club will run a fan festival featuring a 3×3 tournament, player appearances and community events intended to introduce families and young players to the Tempo roster and the league at large. The schedule is part of the organisation’s strategy to be seen as more than just a Toronto team, extending its appeal across provincial and international lines.
“We’re Canada’s team, aren’t we? And I think that’s important,”
The comment came from head coach Sandy Brondello, a WNBA fixture for 27 of the league’s 30 seasons as a player and coach. Brondello said bringing an expansion team to Canada presented challenges, but she praised the league’s growth, sponsorship interest and broader visibility that make trips like this both possible and worthwhile.
Building fandom and opportunity on the West Coast
Tempo players and staff framed the Vancouver visit as an opportunity to create visibility for women’s professional basketball and to inspire local girls who may now see a clearer pathway to the top levels of the sport.
- Friday: Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire at Rogers Arena.
- Saturday: Fan festival with 3×3 tournament and player appearances.
- Sunday: Tempo vs. Las Vegas Aces at Rogers Arena.
Tempo personnel pointed to recent Canadian stops as evidence the league is finding fresh audiences. Earlier this summer Toronto staged two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre; the first match, a 108-95 loss to the Dallas Wings, drew 20,996 fans — an attendance figure that set a WNBA regular-season record. That success underlines the potential in larger Canadian markets and informs why the Tempo are travelling to Vancouver.
| Event | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rogers Arena games | Display Tempo on West Coast, grow fan base |
| Fan festival | Community engagement, youth outreach |
Players have emphasised accessibility — inviting fans to cheer, boo and otherwise engage — as a way to create connection. Sykes said the support athletes get from travelling fans is "unconditional" and that the Tempo intend to keep producing a high-quality product so that local children can imagine themselves at that level someday.
For Vancouver sports fans, the Tempo’s visit is a chance to see WNBA-level talent without travelling to the United States, and for the club it is an experiment in building a Canadian identity that stretches beyond Toronto. Whether the West Coast stop will translate into sustained followings or season-ticket commitments remains to be seen, but the appearance itself is part of a broader push by the WNBA to expand its reach and make the women’s game increasingly visible across North America.
Tickets, community-event details and times were made available by the Tempo and Rogers Arena ahead of the weekend.
