Toronto Tempo brings women’s basketball fever to Montreal

For a second time, fans piled in at the Montreal Bell Centre to see the Toronto Tempo take on the New York Liberty.

As Canada’s first WNBA team, fans say The Tempo aren’t just representing their hometown; they’re playing for Canadians across the country.

The Canadian team edged out the Liberty 93-91.

On Friday, the Tempo played the Dallas Wings amid a full house. Nearly 21,000 fans packed the Bell Centre, setting a new WNBA record for regular-season attendance.

Dallas Wings beat the expansion Toronto Tempo 108-95.

TSN Tempo reporter Chelsea Leite says the level of support could be a good sign of the future for Canadian basketball.

“This push into Montreal and breaking the record on Friday and all of that has just been a proof that Canada has a ton of appetite for just, not just the WNBA, but women’s sports in general,” she says.

However, Leite says it could be a while before the league builds teams across more Canadian cities.

“WNBA expansion is happening quite fast, but they also have plans set out until 2030. So I wouldn’t say it’s something that’s going to come like in the next few years, but I do think they’re kind of mapping out where the league could expand, say in ten, 15 years,” she explains.

The Tempo will return to Toronto at the end of July. They are set to play in Vancouver next month.

While the team has faced challenges like injuries on the court, Leite says they’ve exceeded expectations for their first year.

“Kiki Rice has been doing amazing. you know, before her injury. Sykes obviously was doing great before her injury. Marina Mabrey is playing the best season of her career, and so these are silver linings that you can look to,” Leite says.