Recap The Court

Jacob Smith

Toronto has been announced as the latest expansion franchise for the WNBA, getting a team for 2026 to play out of the Coca Cola Coliseum. With women’s basketball fans in Canada finally getting what they’ve been asking for with a team at home to cheer for, this also opens up a door for Canadian athletes, and can put a big spotlight on the talent we have here at home.

With leagues like the Hoop Queen’s Summer League and the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association, opportunities for Canadian athletes to play basketball at home during the summer has expanded, but the options to play professionally have always meant players were going to get sent internationally, mainly overseas. Countries like Germany, Australia, Latvia have been some of the destinations for former Canadian varsity basketball players to take their game to the next level, and the ability to play professional basketball in Canada hasn’t been there, until now.

There has been a Canadian presence in the WNBA for a long time with Kayla Alexander, Kia Nurse, Bridget Carleton, Natalie Achonwa among others making an impact in the league, and getting there through playing college ball in the NCAA. With added roster spots coming with the Bay Area and now Toronto expansion team, that Canadian presence has an opportunity to grow, and maybe stay at home.

This is a call for the Toronto WNBA franchise to look at home. Look at all the talent in U SPORTS, the CCAA and other leagues. Build that bridge between varsity athletics in Canada and the professional league. Give the players who want to play at the highest level another reason to stay home, and as Canada’s team, show the level Canada is at.

Every year we see Canadians getting signed to professional leagues overseas and having success, and with opportunity, they make Canada proud taking their love of the game and showcasing it to the world as they travel from country to country. This expansion franchise in Toronto is a perfect opportunity to showcase those athletes who represent Canada, and give them an opportunity to earn a spot on Canada’s team, one they have proven they will absolutely make the most of.

This is a big step forward for Canadian women’s basketball, and the opportunity to grow the game on all levels is there. Put the eye on Canadian women’s basketball, and take the opportunity to give chance to not just the athletes who go through the NCAA, but those who want to stay and play in Canada, in their home country.