Another WNBA team in Canada? Vancouver group says it's 'forming' bid

A Vancouver-based group is planning to file a bid for a second WNBA team in Canada, according to Bill Bakk, the group's leader. Bakk, a former Deloitte executive, explained that the group has been working on this idea for nearly a year and hopes to submit a formal bid to the WNBA within the next two to three years. The potential launch date for the new team is 2031 if approved.

The Toronto Tempo, the WNBA's first Canadian expansion team, began play in 2026. This addition to the league brings the total number of teams to 15. The WNBA had previously announced plans for three more expansion teams in the coming years, which would bring the total to 18 franchises.

The Vancouver group is aware of the significant financial investment required for a potential bid, including the need for a practice facility and an arena to host games. Rogers Arena and the Pacific Coliseum are among the possible venues they are considering. Rogers Arena, home to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, has a seating capacity of 19,700 for basketball events, while the Pacific Coliseum, which can accommodate 15,713 spectators, has a total capacity of 17,500.

The group's co-leader, Jodi Evans, highlighted the increasing interest in the WNBA, noting that the average fanbase viewership was 440,000 per game three years ago and has since risen to 1.4 million. Evans also pointed out that certain WNBA games have sold out, with audiences of up to 11,000 spectators.