‘We’re Canada’s team, aren’t we?’: Toronto Tempo look to build fan base in Vancouver

VANCOUVER - For Bridget Carleton, a native of Chatham, Ontario, the dream of playing professional basketball in Canada was once unattainable. *First annual fee totaled $205.00 plus GST for a one-year subscription, automatically renewing at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual cost of $259.35).* The offer was available only to new and qualified returning subscribers, with a cancellation option at any time.

Carleton's perspective shifted dramatically when she witnessed her Portland Fire team's victory over the Toronto Tempo in Vancouver on Friday. "It’s surreal," she remarked before the game, reflecting on her journey from a Canadian childhood unaware of the WNBA to a professional player in her home country. Carleton's mother had been familiar with the Detroit Shock, taking her to games across the border, but the WNBA remained largely invisible to most Canadians.

An announced crowd of 12,414 fans gathered to support the Tempo, which overcame a 13-point deficit to defeat the Portland Fire 82-79, ending Toronto's 12-game losing streak. The enthusiastic crowd, according to center Isabelle Harrison, provided the team with a significant morale boost. "It felt good. I just felt like we had the momentum on our side because all the fans were here," Harrison said. "Canada really showed up for us today."

Portland's Carleton's nine points in the first six minutes of the game helped the Fire take an early lead, but Toronto rallied to tie the score at 44-44 at halftime. The crowd grew even more animated when Harrison scored a layup midway through the third quarter, giving Toronto a 58-53 lead. The level of support from the crowd was palpable, with Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello struggling to communicate with her team during timeouts amid the noise.

"This game is part of the Tempo's Cross Canada series, which included two games in Montreal in July," Brondello explained. "The first matchup, a 108-95 loss to the Dallas Wings, drew a crowd of 20,996, setting an attendance record for a WNBA regular-season game. Bringing an expansion team to Canada has its challenges, but seeing the league's growth has been remarkable. Our sponsorship and visibility are incredible, and every time we go to a new city, it's a fantastic opportunity to grow the sport."

The Tempo will remain in Vancouver over the weekend, hosting a fan festival on Saturday before facing the Las Vegas Aces at Rogers Arena on Sunday. Toronto guard Brittney Sykes noted the immense growth in fandom and support for the team in Canada, emphasizing the league's progress. "It’s just experiencing the type of fandom that we’re getting, the type of buy-in that we’re getting, the type of expansion that we’re getting," Sykes said.

"I wouldn't have thought we had a team in Canada, and now we do. I just want us to keep putting out a really great product for these little girls and every little kid... to make them believe that they can make it to the next level."

For Carleton, a two-time Olympian, the presence of professional women's basketball in Canada is a dream come true. "Seeing women professional athletes playing so close to home, the sky’s the limit. You don’t have to have small dreams," she said. "I think that’s the biggest thing, is what you can see, you can be. And I would have loved that as a kid. And so now I’m really honoured to be that for somebody else."