Video: WNBA Unveils Toronto as New Expansion Team for 2026; Drake Attends Reveal

The WNBA is coming to Canada.

"I am honored to officially announce that we have awarded the city of Toronto the 14th WNBA franchise," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during a Thursday press conference:

Drake, Toronto Raptors legend Kyle Lowry and Raptors president Masai Ujiri were on hand to celebrate the announcement:

The Toronto team, which is the league's first outside of the United States, will take the floor during the 2026 season.

"Growing internationally, I've been trying to think through next steps on a global platform," Engelbert told Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press before Thursday's announcement. "It helps us reach new audiences and bring in new partners. The thing I love about going to another country is that the young girls and boys get to see professional basketball for women is important, too."

Feinberg noted that Larry Tanenbaum led Kilmer Sports Ventures' $115 million purchase of the team.

Tanenbaum is a familiar name to Toronto sports fans, as he is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is the group that owns the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA's Toronto Raptors and the city's MLS and Canadian Football League franchises.

"Today is a game-changing day not only for women's basketball but also for sports in Canada," Tanenbaum said. "This franchise will be Canada's team, and we are so excited to unite the country and inspire pride and passion in fans from coast to coast."

He also revealed that the Toronto team will play some games in Vancouver and Montreal and "solicit public input" when it comes to the eventual name.

The team will play at the 8,700-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum, which is the home of the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies. The team may also play some games at Scotiabank Arena.

Earlier this month, the WNBA revealed it was expanding starting in the 2025 season with the Golden State Valkyries. The Valkyries, which will be the league's 13th franchise, announced their team name and logo in a video narrated by singer-songwriter Kehlani:

Golden State is the league's first expansion franchise since the Atlanta Dream in 2008.

The expansion into Toronto comes after the WNBA held multiple exhibition games in Canada. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Seattle Storm at Rogers Place in Edmonton prior to the 2024 campaign, and 16,655 were in attendance at the sold out exhibition.

WNBA fans in the country will soon have regular-season games to attend following Thursday's announcement.