New year, new opportunities.
For the WNBA, there’s, even more, to look forward to in 2023 as it hosts its first-ever Canada Game in Toronto. The stage is set for the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena.
“Bringing a WNBA preseason game to Canada is an important milestone for the global growth of the league,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “I’ve spoken often of the global popularity of women’s basketball and, this past season, WNBA games were broadcast in 207 countries and territories, including in Canada, where fans have shown a great appetite for WNBA action. And as Canadian stars like Bridget Carleton, Natalie Achonwa, and Kia Nurse continue to flourish in and drive interest around the league, we’re looking forward to building on the momentum and excitement surrounding the WNBA in Canada with this historic game.”
Chicago Sky, which won the WNBA championship in 2021 was led by four 2022 All-stars in Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Candace Parker, and Courtney Vandersloot. The Sky also advanced to the Championship Game of the 2022 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase.
“The Chicago Sky are thrilled to have the opportunity to play the first-ever preseason game in Toronto, Canada, and share the excitement of the WNBA with our friends up North,” said Sky President and CEO Adam Fox. “We know Canada has a rich women’s basketball history, passion for the game, and shared values around diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are honored to partner with the Minnesota Lynx to showcase some of the world’s greatest basketball players to help expand the WNBA’s popularity in Canada and globally.”
The Minnesota Lynx is another great franchise that has won four WNBA championships from 2011 to 2017. They made 11 consecutive playoff appearances since 2011.
“We are looking forward to participating in this historic game for the WNBA,” said Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve. “The league’s global popularity has shown incredible growth, and I am pleased our team will be a part of continuing to pave the path for the WNBA by bringing our game to Canada.”
This will be only the third WNBA preseason game to be played outside of the United States. If you recall, in 2004, the Detroit Shock, and San Antonio Silver stars met in Monterrey, Mexico. Then in 2011, the Atlanta Dream played against the Standard Life Great Britain Women’s basketball team in Manchester, England.
The expansion of the WNBA further proves that there is a fanbase and true appreciation for women’s basketball – especially beyond college basketball.
Ticket information and the start time for the WNBA Canada Game will be announced in the near future. Fans in Canada can register to be notified of event information and presale ticket access at WNBACanadaGame.com. The game will be broadcast live in Canada on Sportsnet and TSN, and available to fans in the U.S. on WNBA League Pass.
