Home
The WNBA is making history by staging its first-ever regular season game outside of the United States, with the Atlanta Dream set to face the Seattle Storm in Vancouver, Canada, on August 15, 2025. This monumental event was announced on Monday by the league.
The WNBA has previously hosted two exhibition games in Canada, including one featuring the Seattle Storm in Edmonton earlier this year. The league is now poised to further expand its presence internationally with the Toronto Tempo, who will begin play in 2026 as the first-ever Canadian team in league history.
"The WNBA Canada Game has been a tremendous opportunity to grow our league’s footprint, and we look forward to hosting the first-ever international regular season game with the Seattle Storm’s return to Canada to face the Atlanta Dream," said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "As we prepare to establish permanent roots in Canada with a Toronto franchise, this game and our year-round engagement efforts are a nod to the incredible momentum around women’s basketball in Canada."
A Global Stage for Women’s Basketball
The Atlanta Dream, who have previously competed in Europe, including in the first-ever WNBA preseason game there in 2011, will now represent the league on an international stage in Vancouver.
"This is a monumental moment for the WNBA, and we are honored that the league chose the Dream to participate in the first regular-season game outside the U.S.," said Morgan Shaw Parker, President and COO of the Atlanta Dream. "We look forward to showcasing our amazing athletes on a global stage in Vancouver. Members of our team have competed internationally, and now they will be doing so wearing Dream colors and representing the city of Atlanta."
Seattle Storm's Return to Canada
The Seattle Storm, known for their successful history in the WNBA, are returning to Canada for this historic game against the Atlanta Dream at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The team announced their excitement on social media: “Oh Canada, we're coming BACK 🇨🇦 We're visiting our neighbors to the north to face off with @AtlantaDream at @RogersArena on August 15!”
Toronto Tempo and Future Expansion
This game marks a significant step towards the WNBA’s international aspirations. In May 2024, the WNBA awarded an expansion franchise to Toronto, which will be known as the Toronto Tempo. The franchise will join the league in 2026, making Toronto the home base, but the team will also play games in other Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Montreal.
"This franchise will be Canada's team," said Toronto Tempo team owner Larry Tanenbaum, highlighting the team’s national identity. "The Tempo will play one-off games in Vancouver and Montreal throughout the season."
A Sign of Things to Come
The WNBA's growing presence in Canada is part of a broader strategy to increase the league's global visibility. In July 2024, the league signed a lucrative media rights deal worth a reported $200 million annually, which will help stabilize its financial footing and provide resources to pursue new opportunities. Hosting the regular season game in Vancouver in 2025 is a key component of this strategy, and it could signal more international events for the league in the future.
