Toronto Tempo bring WNBA showcase to Vancouver

The Toronto Tempo are in Vancouver this weekend for two WNBA games at Rogers Arena, part of the expansion club’s effort to build a fan base across Canada.

Toronto faces fellow expansion team Portland Fire on Friday and the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. The club will also host a Saturday fan festival featuring a 3x3 tournament, player appearances and other activities.

Guard Brittney Sykes said she expects an enthusiastic crowd after seeing Vancouver’s response last year, when she played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA’s first regular-season game outside the United States. She said the presence of a Canadian team gives fans another reason to engage with the league.

Head coach Sandy Brondello said travelling to cities beyond Toronto is central to the Tempo’s identity as “Canada’s team.” The club played two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre in July; its 108-95 loss to the Dallas Wings drew 20,996 fans, a WNBA regular-season attendance record.