WNBA
The WNBA Canada Recreation is returning for its sequel.
On Could 5, the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm will conflict in a preseason recreation at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. It’s the second WNBA preseason recreation in Canada with the inaugural model occurring final 12 months in Toronto.
“We wish to carry the WNBA again to Canada,” stated WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to reporters throughout a Zoom information convention Wednesday. “Edmonton felt like the right place to maneuver west this 12 months. We all know basketball is a ardour in Canada.”
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This would be the fourth WNBA preseason recreation performed exterior america. Toronto (2023), Manchester, England (2011) and Monterrey, Mexico (2004) had been the earlier three non-U.S. WNBA preseason contests. The return to Canada is critical because the league continues to think about cities for future franchise growth.
Engelbert stated Wednesday that any future growth groups (besides the WNBA Bay Space growth franchise, which can begin in 2025) received’t start play till 2026 and past. The Athletic beforehand reported that Toronto is a possible metropolis to which the WNBA might carry an growth crew. Minority proprietor of Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure (MLSE) Larry Tanenbaum is pursuing a WNBA growth franchise in Toronto, in response to CBC Sports activities.
Engelbert stated that constitution journey “isn’t factoring into the selections” in terms of increasing into Canada.
“What elements into the flexibility to supply constitution would be the long-term financial mannequin,” Engelbert stated. “We’re constructing media rights, company partnerships, and capitalizing on the momentum round our recreation proper now.”
The Sparks completed with a 17-23 file in 2023. An authentic WNBA franchise with three championships, the Sparks boast a roster that features WNBA All-Star guard Layshia Clarendon and 2022 WNBA champion Dearica Hamby. The Sparks acquired Canadian guard Kia Nurse from the Storm on Jan. 31. Nurse’s brother, Darnell, is a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers.
“Showcasing among the league’s high expertise in Canada is a superb alternative to proceed constructing devoted WNBA followers exterior of the U.S.,” stated Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson.
The Storm completed 11-29 in 2023. Seattle added eight-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and six-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith throughout free company. Jewell Loyd, the 2023 WNBA scoring chief who averaged 24.7 factors per recreation, headlines the Storm’s roster.
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“I’ve been honored to work with the Canadian senior ladies’s nationwide crew and witness firsthand how Canada continues to be out entrance in terms of advocating for girls and investing in ladies’s sports activities,” stated Storm coach Noelle Quinn.
Within the inaugural WNBA Canada Recreation final 12 months at Scotiabank Enviornment, the Chicago Sky defeated the Minnesota Lynx 82-74. Kahleah Copper led the Sky with 18 factors on 8-of-16 capturing from the ground. Tiffany Mitchell paced the Lynx with 19 factors on 6-of-8 capturing from the sphere. Bridget Carleton — the lone Canadian taking part in within the recreation — tallied three factors, two rebounds and one help. It was a sell-out crowd (an availability of 19,800 seats) with Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and Serge Ibaka, an NBA champion with the Raptors, amongst these in attendance.
Tickets for the WNBA Canada Recreation in Edmonton go on sale on March 20. The 2024 WNBA season suggestions off on Could 14.
(Picture: John E. Sokolowski / USA Right this moment)
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Lukas Weese is a Workers Editor of Information at The Athletic. Earlier than The Athletic, Lukas was a contract sports activities journalist, working as an affiliate editor at Sportsnet, an OHL reporter for the Toronto Star and had bylines in shops akin to ESPN’s Andscape, USA Right this moment, Complicated, Yahoo Sports activities, GOLF Journal, Simply Girls’s Sports activities and Raptors Republic. Lukas additionally does freelance play-by-play broadcasting. Comply with Lukas on Twitter @Weesesports
