Toronto Tempo brings Canada-wide WNBA plan to Vancouver

The Toronto Tempo will bring its WNBA schedule to Vancouver this weekend, hosting the Portland Fire on Friday and the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday at Rogers Arena. A Saturday fan festival will include a 3x3 tournament and player appearances.

Team president Teresa Resch says playing outside Toronto is central to the Tempo’s plan to become Canada’s team. A sold-out WNBA game in Vancouver last year between the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream drew 15,892 fans and helped demonstrate the potential for the new club.

The Tempo enter the weekend at 10-25 and on a 12-game losing streak. The club was eliminated from playoff contention after Wednesday’s 93-82 loss to the Washington Mystics.

Resch said the business side of the inaugural season has been strong, with every home game at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum selling out. In July, a Tempo game at Montreal’s Bell Centre drew 20,996 spectators, setting a WNBA regular-season attendance record.

The team intends to keep scheduling games in other parts of Canada, Resch said, though future stops will depend on league scheduling, venue availability and fan response. She said building a countrywide following will take more than one season.