The Toronto Tempo announced the schedule for its inaugural season Thursday, where they’ll play the Washington Mystics on May 8 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
To celebrate the announcement, let’s take a look back at the moments that brought the team to its Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) debut.
May 2023: Exhibition game between the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx
The Chicago Sky faced the Minnesota Lynx at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on May 13, 2023 in the first WNBA pre-season game played in Canada. It was an unprecedented milestone, showcasing Canada as a viable country for a WNBA expansion team.
The W is headed to the 6ix 🇨🇦‼
The first ever #WNBA Canada Game will feature a matchup between the @chicagosky and the @minnesotalynx on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON ⬇
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 18, 2023
May 2024: Toronto selected as the league’s 14th team
On May 23, 2024, the WNBA announced its first expansion team, awarding the still unnamed 14th franchise to Toronto. Sports billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), paid $50 million USD for the team.
December 2024: Logo and name leaked
Eagled-eyed fans noticed the name “Toronto Tempo” on a drop-down menu on the WNBA website, which at the time had not been revealed to the public. Not everyone loved the new logo, with some fans comparing it to the Indiana Pacer’s.
March to September 2025: Ownership announcements
Several big names in sports and entertainment were announced as joint owners over the course of 2025. In March, retired professional tennis player Serena Williams was announced as the first joint-owner of the Tempo.
In May, technology bigwig Sukhinder Singh Cassidy and Toronto actress and YouTuber Lily Singh joined the ownership team. In September, Geoff Molson — of the Molson Canadian family — and France Margaret Belanger, who also owns the Montreal Canadiens, were added as owners.
August 2025: Announced games in Vancouver and Montreal
The Tempo announced it would play not only in Toronto, but also in Vancouver and Montreal. Two regular season games will be played at Rogers Arena and another two games will be played at Bell Centre.
The Bell Centre will host the July 10 game against the Dallas Wings and the July 12 game against the New York Liberty. Rogers Arena will host the Aug. 21 game against new franchise Portland Fire and the Aug. 23 game against the Las Vegas Aces.
November 2025: Sandy Brondello as Head Coach
On Nov. 4, 2025, Sandy Brondello, who coached the New York Liberty to win the 2024 WNBA Championship, was announced as Head Coach for the Toronto Tempo after being let go by the Liberty for failing to bring them to another championship.
The now defunct Detroit Shock drafted Brondello in 1998. To date, she has coached four WNBA teams — the San Antonio Silver Stars, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty.