The WNBA announced today (May 23) that its 14th franchise will call Toronto home, marking the league’s first ever expansion into Canada. Notable attendees at the unveiling ceremony were Raptors President Masai Ujiri, former guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, and Drake.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert verified the location of the basketball team—the Coca-Cola Coliseum—during the event. The head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Larry Tanenbaum, also lauded current WNBA players as role models for upcoming Toronto team members, including A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Canadian-born Kia Nurse.
“They may understand that the activity they participate in as women and girls is equally significant and worthy of investment, as the more our collective appreciation of the significance and promise of women’s sports, the more connected we
The WNBA announced today (May 23) that its 14th franchise will call Toronto home, marking the league’s first ever expansion into Canada. Notable attendees at the unveiling ceremony were Raptors President Masai Ujiri, former guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, and Drake.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert verified the location of the basketball team—the Coca-Cola Coliseum—during the event. The head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Larry Tanenbaum, also lauded current WNBA players as role models for upcoming Toronto team members, including A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Canadian-born Kia Nurse.
“They may understand that the activity they participate in as women and girls is equally significant and worthy of investment, as the more our collective appreciation of the significance and promise of women’s sports, the more connected we get to a more equitable future in the world of sports,” Tanenbaum said. “We’re here because today, once again, we were in the right place at the right time. And that’s entirely because of the talent, hard work, and perseverance of many women in this room today.”
You heard it here first 🤩
Commissioner Engelbert has officially announced our exciting expansion to the 6ix
Welcome to the W, @WNBA_Toronto 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/NC5wJopwAF
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 23, 2024
“The more we all recognize the value and potential in women’s sports, the closer we get to a more equitable future in the world of sports.” 👏
Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of MLSE #WNBAToronto #UpNext pic.twitter.com/lo8JzywZZq
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 23, 2024
Drake, who was a significant presence during the Raptors’ 2019 championship run, brought additional attention to the historic announcement, for better or worse. Social media users used the rapper’s public appearance as a way to revisit his recent beef with Kendrick Lamar.
“It would be kinda funny if the [Golden State] Valkyries found a way to loop in Kendrick at their next event,” sports journalist Mark Schindler shared on Twitter. In a separate post, someone appeared to reference the Compton emcee’s “Not Like Us” by writing, “WHY IS HE AROUND?”
Another account on the app said, “The [Los Angeles] Sparks have the chance to do the funniest thing with this Toronto announcement.” Check out the reactions below.
It would be kinda funny if the Valkyries found a way to loop in Kendrick at their next event
For no reason whatsoever
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) May 23, 2024
WHY IS HE AROUND? https://t.co/fdtTyO1C0I
— The Bombastic Clown 🇵🇷 (@IRodC1) May 23, 2024
The Sparks have the chance to do the funniest thing with this Toronto announcement
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) May 23, 2024
get drake AWAY from the WNBA
— thao 🍉 (@holycowitsthao) May 23, 2024
The WNBA revealed the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries earlier this month. Kehlani, who voiced the team’s promotional video, said, “Born from the Bay, gilded in gold. This is where legends take flight, but our story has yet to be written.”