When Brittney Griner landed in Vancouver on Friday night to set foot in Canada for the first time, he wanted to have visited before.
Griner, along with the rest of his Seattle storm and the opposite dream of Atlanta, were in the city to participate in a historical moment in the WNBA, the first regular season game on Canadian soil.
“I think it’s a drug … It’s great here. I really like it,” said the 6 -foot 9 -inch center in an interview prior to the game.
The game served as a teaser for what national fans could experience in May 2026 when Toronto’s tempo officially joins the League, and when US teams will land in Canada more regularly.
“A regular seasonal game within this country is really a precursor to what we are going to have continuously with the tempo,” said Teresa Resch, president of Tempo, to CBC Sports.
Look | Thousands of fans are presented for the first game of the Canada’s WNBA in Vancouver:
A look behind the first game of the WNBA of the regular season of Canada in Vancouver, where a game of jaws attracted thousands of Rogers Arena fans.
Resch, together with the general manager of Tempo, Monika Wright Rogers, was the central court on Friday night to announce more good news for West Canadian basketball fans: Vancouver will be the host of two other games during the 2025-2026 season of the WNBA.
The deafening cheers filled the sand when fans heard the news.
While the game could not have been written better: a storm drum of the third quarter of the storm guard Skylar Diggins, a return for sleep in the final painting and a victory of 80-78 of Seattle, was what happened outside the court that pointed out a new chapter for female basketball in Canada.
New wave of Canadian fandom
Almost 20,000 fans arrived at Rogers Arena in the rain touched, wearing everything, from Team Canada Apparel, Caitlin Clarke Jerseys and Wnba Wanded T -shirts that said Everyone looks at female sports.
Atlanta’s dream guard, Ryhne Howard, told CBC Sports that he hopes anyone with aspirations to play professionally to chase him.
The importance of the game was beyond box office sales, representing a new era of opportunity and possibility for athletes.
Look | Storm endures for Victoria Nery against Dream in Vancouver:
Seattle Storm beats Atlanta Dream 80-78 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, the first regular seasonal WNBA game that will be played outside the United States.
For Cathy Lucas, who traveled from Tofino, BC, with 13 youth basketball players from First Nation for the game, it was an opportunity to show the girls something they can aspire to.
“We came because we wanted to give these girls something to expect. Everyone started in basketball,” he said.
To make the trip possible, WNBA Canada extended an invitation to the team and paid the tickets for the girls to the game.
“For me and my daughter, we see the W religiously and we go to Seattle, Vegas, but to have Toronto’s tempo next year, it is very exciting,” he said.
“We can have someone to support, the Canada team, not just Toronto.”
WNBA growth means ‘growth pain’
Amid the growth of the WNBA and its expansion to Canada, the instances of abuse of players by fans online and in-arraena, is becoming a story that dominates the headline in recent months.
This, together with the demand of the National Association of Women’s Basketball Players of a higher salary, threatening a boycott player to the 2025-2026 season, puts the league in a precarious position.
When asked about the basis of Canadian admirers and his hope for the next season, Resch quickly referred to the Tempo fans platform “Together We Win” to foster community and inclusion.
“Our fans are already incredible, and we can’t wait to meet them,” he said.
“We want everyone to feel welcome. We want everyone to feel they have a place there. In addition, they take responsibility.”
The next time Canada is the host of a WNBA game, the tempo will be the local team in Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, where another story will be made.
