Toronto WNBA expansion team: Everything we know about Larry Tanenbaum, plans for women’s basketball in Canada | Sporting News Canada

Toronto is set to be the next stop for the WNBA.

The women’s pro basketball league officially awarded an expansion team to Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum and the Kilmer Sports Inc., the WNBA announced on May 23. The news was previously reported by CBC Sports on May 10. reported

Tanenbaum has been a vocal about his desire to bring women’s basketball to the Six, and his wish was officially granted. He and the Kilmer Sports group are paying $115 million for the 14th team in the league. 

The WNBA granted Golden State an expansion franchise in October 2023, with that team set to begin play in 2025. The San Francisco Bay Area team will bring the league’s total to 13, and the WNBA aimed to add another.

Here is everything you need to know about the WNBA’s Toronto expansion.

MORE: When to expect Toronto, Golden State to join WNBA

Is Toronto getting a WNBA team?

Toronto was awarded a WNBA expansion franchise on May 23, marking the 14th organization in the league. 

“Growing internationally, I’ve been trying to think through next steps on a global platform,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said to The Associated Press. “It helps us reach new audiences and bring in new partners. The thing I love about going to another country is that the young girls and boys get to see professional basketball for women is important, too.”

Women’s basketball is exploding in popularity in the U.S. and Canada. But Canada does not have a professional women’s basketball league, which is part of the reason why Tanenbaum pushed for a WNBA team to land in Toronto.

“Our Toronto sports franchises are thriving but, we have been missing one critical piece — women’s professional sports,” Tanenbaum said. “The world is finally taking notice of something that’s been there all along — the immense talent, passion and competition in women’s sports. So, once again, I saw an opportunity and knew we were in the right place at the right time to bring Canada’s first WNBA team to Toronto. And now we have, making sports history.”

While it may be the first WNBA team to be located in the country, it’s not the first time the women’s pro league has stepped foot in the Great White North.

Two WNBA preseason games were played in the country, including one in Toronto in 2023 and one in Edmonton on May 7 of this season. An exhibition matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky sold out at the Scotiabank Arena last year, while just last Saturday, more than 16,000 tickets were sold for a preseason game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm at Rogers Place.

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Who is Larry Tanenbaum?

Tanenbaum, 79, is a minority owner and chairman of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, the sporting company that owns the Maple Leafs of the NHL, Raptors of the NBA, Toronto FC of the MLS, the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

He also is the chairman and CEO of the Kilmer Group. When the MLSE board turned down the prospect of a WNBA team, Tanenbaum pursued the opportunity separately, per CBC Sports.

When will the Toronto WNBA team start play?

The Toronto WNBA team is expected to start play in May 2026, CBC Sports reported.

Where will the Toronto WNBA team play?

The Toronto WNBA team is expected to play at Coca-Cola Coliseum. 

The 8,000-seat arena in Toronto is currently the home for the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. In addition, Toronto’s Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise played several games at the venue during its inaugural 2023-24 season.

Toronto WNBA team name

It is not known what the team name for the Toronto WNBA team will be.