The proof of the WNBA’s growth seems to be coming every single day.
The league is expected to announce an expansion franchise in Toronto, the league’s first team outside of the US, according to a report by CBC.
Toronto billionaire Larry Tenenbaum is heading Kilmer Sports Inc., which will bring the WNBA franchise to the Queen City. Tenenbaum is also a minority owner of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment which owns Toronto’s NHL franchise (Maple Leafs), NBA franchise (Raptors), and MLS franchise (TFC), among other pro sports teams.
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The newest WNBA team is expected to be officially announced by May 23, and the team will play starting in 2026. The Toronto franchise would be the league’s 14th franchise, with there being 12 teams currently in the league and the 13th coming by the 2025 season in San Francisco.
The league topped out at 16 teams from 2000 to 2002.
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CBC’s report said that both Kilmer Sports Inc. and the WNBA did not officially confirm the announcement yet. The WNBA has teased the addition of two new teams over the past year, and after the San Francisco announcement in October, it seemed as though the 14th team was going to be in Portland.
However, that move fell through in November after concerns over the construction of the Moda Center, the arena where the NBA’s Trailblazers play that would have also housed the WNBA expansion team.
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Everything seems to be on the up and up for the WNBA as the league announced on Tuesday, May 7 that it would begin to allow charter flights for teams that will start as early as this season, which tips off on Tuesday, May 14.
That solution resolves a major issue for many WNBA players traveling on commercial airlines, which has led to stars camping out in airports and affecting their rest and recovery between games. On top of that, players were also wary about security especially after Brittney Griner faced harassment last year at an airport and with the added publicity that will come from this year’s popular rookie class.
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