The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced Wednesday that the new season will begin on May 8, and the Toronto Tempo is set to make their debut on the same day at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, hinging on the fact that their collective bargaining agreement is resolved.
The Tempo will face off against the Washington Mystics in their home opener at 7:30 p.m.
Toronto's inaugural season will feature 44 regular season games, with 22 of those matches being played at home in four venues across Canada. The Tempo will hold 15 games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum and three at Scotiabank Arena, with two at the Bell Centre in Montreal in July and two at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver in August.
“With the release of our 2026 WNBA schedule and the announcement of our games across the country, we’re reminded that this franchise was built for every corner of Canada,” Tempo Chief Marketing Officer Whitney Bell said in a press release.
“Playing in Montreal this July and Vancouver this August, along with all our home games in Toronto, is about more than basketball,” Bell said. “It is about bringing communities together, showcasing the passion of our fans coast-to-coast, and celebrating what it means to be Canada’s team.”
Throughout the season, Toronto will host a nine-game home stand from June 25 to July 20. The team will then take a brief pause for the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game Weekend on July 24 and 25 in Chicago and again from Aug. 30 to Sept. 15 for the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Key Matchups
Three matchups will snatch the spotlight in the Tempo’s home schedule at Scotiabank Arena in the peak of the summer months, beginning with the Phoenix Mercury on June 27.
The Mercury will serve as a key reference point for Toronto as they face one of the most well-established teams in the league. Since being named one of the teams in the Original Eight in 1997, the Phoenix have won four conference titles (1998, 2007, 2009, 2014) and three championships (2007, 2009, 2014). The matchup gives the Tempo a chance to show their identity and competitive side against a team with loads of championship experience on one of the biggest stages in women’s sports.
Just over a month later, the Minnesota Lynx will come to town on July 30 for their first match north of the border. The Lynx, who ranked first in the Western conference last season, are known for their physical, disciplined style of play, and four championships.
This will prove to be a challenging matchup for Toronto to see how they will hold back the elite players from the top of the pack.
Finally, fans will be set for the most-anticipated match on Aug. 18 as Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever come to Toronto.
Since her arrival to the WNBA in April 2024, Clark has brought increased attention to the league because of her style of play, so Scotiabank Arena will likely be packed with big crowds for her first appearance.
Thus, this game is expected to be a defining moment to the inaugural season with major star-power and international attention.
Impact of CBA on their season
Of course, all these plans are underway, but one roadblock could be preventing the Tempo from keeping a steady beat.
The WNBA and its players union (WNBPA) have not yet been able to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement or an extension of their current contract. The players are fighting for player well-being both on and off the court as well as better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Savanna Hamilton, a broadcast journalist who covers basketball in Toronto, said she doubts the CBA will be resolved by the time Toronto’s season starts up.
Hamilton said because the Tempo is being built from the ground up, there are several “crucial markers” the team can’t miss. One of these markers the team can’t go without is training camp.
She said if they do, they could “potentially still get away with it but it will be a tight crunch.”
The Tempo said the broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.
