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The league has had two exhibition games in
Canada, including one played by Seattle in Edmonton this past
season. The Toronto Tempo will begin play in 2026 as the first
international team in league history.
“The WNBA Canada Game has been a tremendous opportunity to grow
our league’s footprint, and we look forward to hosting the
first-ever international regular season game with the Seattle
Storm’s return to Canada to face the Atlanta Dream," WNBA
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "As we prepare to establish
permanent roots in Canada with a Toronto franchise, this game
and our year-round engagement efforts are a nod to the
incredible momentum around women’s basketball in Canada.”
The Dream participated in the first preseason WNBA game in
Europe when they beat the British national team in 2011.
“This is a monumental moment for the WNBA, and we are honored
that the league chose the Dream to participate in the first
regular-season game outside the U.S," Atlanta Dream president
and COO Morgan Shaw Parker said. "We look forward to showcasing
our amazing athletes on a global stage in Vancouver. Members of
our team have competed internationally, and now they will be
doing so wearing Dream colors and representing the city of
Atlanta.”
This will mark the fifth WNBA game played outside the U.S., with
a previous contest played in Mexico in 2004 to go along with the
Canada and England games. Viewership in Canada was up 175% last
season from the previous year and the league set new highs in
the country across digital platforms, including WNBA League Pass
and social media.
“The WNBA Canada Game is an opportunity to showcase the WNBA and
its talent to more fans. The Storm is honored to be a part of
this international celebration of basketball," Seattle CEO and
president Alisha Valavanis said. "Playing in front of fans in
Edmonton in 2024 was a highlight of the season and we’re looking
forward to bringing the Storm energy back to Canada in 2025.”
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