Official: Toronto Is Getting A WNBA Team - Press Conference Today link pg 9

[xAIRNESSx]

Awesome news. Another team for fans to complain about.

It is interesting how the popularity of the wnba suddenly grew in the last couple of years. It’s almost as if people felt pity/sympathy for the league.

Or, the basketball could be getting better.

There's been huge growth in girls picking up basketball since the WNBA was established. It was only a matter of time until girls training specifically for basketball from a young age started getting into the league and girls that traditionally gravitated to other sports/careers started looking at basketball as a legitimate career choice.

But yeah, let's go with pity.

It's a combination of things, including people putting their money where their mouth is in regards to supporting progressive causes. Ratings have basically doubled from 3 years ago.

Things changed after George Floyd.

[ruckus]

Awesome news. Another team for fans to complain about.

It is interesting how the popularity of the wnba suddenly grew in the last couple of years. It’s almost as if people felt pity/sympathy for the league.

Or, the basketball could be getting better.

There's been huge growth in girls picking up basketball since the WNBA was established. It was only a matter of time until girls training specifically for basketball from a young age started getting into the league and girls that traditionally gravitated to other sports/careers started looking at basketball as a legitimate career choice.

But yeah, let's go with pity.

It's a combination of things, including people putting their money where their mouth is in regards to supporting progressive causes. Ratings have basically doubled from 3 years ago.

Things changed after George Floyd.

If that's the case, why is NBA viewership relatively stagnant in comparison?

[mintsa]

Team name ?? Any guesses?

[Potential]

Toronto North Star sounds good

[Scase]

Happy for the folks who were looking forward to this!

[grant101]

This is so awesome! Hope we don't get screwed on the draft like the Raps did and they let us grab top picks. Would be great if our first year coincided with Juju Watkins entering the draft. She's an absolute baller

[mad-man]

Awesome news. Another team for fans to complain about.

It is interesting how the popularity of the wnba suddenly grew in the last couple of years. It’s almost as if people felt pity/sympathy for the league.

Or, the basketball could be getting better.

There's been huge growth in girls picking up basketball since the WNBA was established. It was only a matter of time until girls training specifically for basketball from a young age started getting into the league and girls that traditionally gravitated to other sports/careers started looking at basketball as a legitimate career choice.

But yeah, let's go with pity.

It's a combination of things, including people putting their money where their mouth is in regards to supporting progressive causes. Ratings have basically doubled from 3 years ago.

Things changed after George Floyd.

Isn’t that the guy who died of an overdose?

What does that have to do with the WNBA?

[Beerpapi]

Awesome news. Another team for fans to complain about.

It is interesting how the popularity of the wnba suddenly grew in the last couple of years. It’s almost as if people felt pity/sympathy for the league.

Or, the basketball could be getting better.

There's been huge growth in girls picking up basketball since the WNBA was established. It was only a matter of time until girls training specifically for basketball from a young age started getting into the league and girls that traditionally gravitated to other sports/careers started looking at basketball as a legitimate career choice.

But yeah, let's go with pity.

It's a combination of things, including people putting their money where their mouth is in regards to supporting progressive causes. Ratings have basically doubled from 3 years ago.

Things changed after George Floyd.

It’s all about exposure. In 2021 5% of sports coverage was devoted to women’s sports.

https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2021/03/24/womens-sports-gender-study-discrepancy

It was up to 15% in 2023 and estimates that it will continue to increase

https://www.teamwass.com/news/new-study-womens-sports-comprise-15-of-sports-media-coverage/

Add to that the investment espn made into the women’s tournament coverage this year.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2024/04/09/espn-ncaa-womens-tournament-ratings/73256912007/


The game has always been great with some legendary talents, it just wasn’t treated the same by the media.

The more it’s shown and covered the more people will watch.

[TravisScott55]

This is going to be such a success. Basketball in the summer ? It's a no brainer, MLSE was dumb to pass this up.

MLSE passed it up because the WNBA wanted the team to play home games at Scotiabank. They wouldn't have sold out season tickets to Scotiabank plus MLSE didn't want to lose the concert dates in the summer.

This article says they will be playing at Coca Cola arena, so clearly the WNBA caved.

I don’t think that was the reason . Sounds like Ed Rogers was looking to an excuse and wanted to be the contrarian again .

It was literally reported.

[SpezNc]

Everything is about interest. Even better is you can generate content outside of the actual game.

People are already talking about WNBA draft in 2027.

I could be wrong but I am not sure in the past, people were talking about WNBA draft many future year down the road.

At some point, if wnba trade rumours become a thing. If firing/hiring a coach becomes a thing, watch out.

And the most there is content, the more it’s popular, the more it’s going to attract girls in the game, the more the game going to evolve, the more there is content, the more it’s popular etc…

It’s not a deal done but already I think we are seeing a massive curve in the past year.

The game is growing and can’t wait to see it in Toronto.

[SpezNc]

Team name ?? Any guesses?

Toronto Towers
Toronto Titans (chatGPT recommendation)
Toronto Northern Light
Toronto Saurus Rex
Toronto TorvoSaurus
Toronto North Star
Toronto North
Toronto Falcons
Toronto Maple Queens (just kidding)
Toronto Dinos
Toronto Beavers
Toronto Polar Bears
Toronto Smoke (i don’t like that name at all, very underwhelming but saw this suggestion in a Lock In poscast)
Toronto Huskies (I like the name but probably need something else)
Toronto Moose (or Maple Moose , Just kidding it’s sound in french like Pamplemouse)

[Anticon]

So not the easiest place to get to. Or out of. Don't have the fondest memories getting to CNE.

I mean it's right on the GO line. Can't be much easier than that especially for those coming from the east or west.

Don't think that'd be the case if you live in Toronto.

Yeah the exhibition and the West end waterfront in general has terrible transit access from within the city.

Basically the Spadina streetcar from union or a bus from Dufferin. Not terrible service but not at a large enough scale when it's a crowded event.

Coca cola is also not a great venue, saw some Team Canada games there and it didn't have a great atmosphere.

[ruckus]

If they follow the Raptors theme of popular movies:

Toronto Na'vi
Toronto Barbies
Toronto Sand Worms
Toronto Mavericks
Toronto Minions

Jurassic Park themed:
Toronto Rexies
Toronto Blues

[LoveMyRaps]

Would we get the first overall pick in the 2026 draft?

Apparently Juju is a generational talent.

[LoveMyRaps]

Amazing news.
Another fun summer activity.
Will definitely attend some games.
Tickets will be dirt cheap as well.

[duppyy]

Toronto Tents, for all the tent settlements we have now.

[raptors2019]

Someone mentioned Valkyries. Low key fire

[2019nbachamps]

Toronto Tanenbaums

[WaltFrazier]

Team name ?? Any guesses?

Heard Lindsey Dunn on Fan590 with some guy today, discussing names. Huskies and Towers were two she said being floated. I learned that I didn't realize, the ladies pro hockey league teams don't have names yet. PWHL Toronto, PWHL Boston, etc is how they are called as of now.

[SpezNc]

Team name ?? Any guesses?

Heard Lindsey Dunn on Fan590 with some guy today, discussing names. Huskies and Towers were two she said being floated. I learned that I didn't realize, the ladies pro hockey league teams don't have names yet. PWHL Toronto, PWHL Boston, etc is how they are called as of now.

Can’t go wrong with either Huskies or Towers IMO albeit I hope they involve fans in naming the team and more options are considered . It’s a solid way to gain interest.

Also Shireen Ahmed said back in March that it’s possible they try to market the team as “Canada’s team” team.