WNBA officials and fans are learning about the
possibility of a WNBA team in Toronto and to me that is a once and a lifetime
opportunity. As someone who aspires to work in the WNBA one day, I see this as beneficial for the league and professional women’s sports.
So why not bring the WNBA to Canada?
There are many factors that play into this process. The main one would have to be the Toronto Raptors winning their first NBA Title.
Canada is known for having outstanding sport teams with hockey being the most popular. The country is home to the National Hockey League Headquarters and seven professional hockey teams. Four of them have won the Stanley Cup. The two teams that have won the most NHL championships are the Montreal Canadiens (24) and Toronto Maple Leafs (13). The Canadian National Team also has had success, winning Olympic Gold Medals for both men and women.
Canada also has a Major League Baseball team. The Toronto Blue Jays have been around the city since 1977. The team won back to back World Series titles during the 1992 and 1993 season.
Women’s professional sports are not that popular in Canada except when the national team plays. There used to be a professional women’s hockey league, but it folded in 2019.
Despite the lack of opportunities for women’s sports, Canada is taking a step forward by covering WNBA games on three of its TV networks, including the Sports Network and Sportsnet. The two stations were the top two in Canada for the broadcast of the Raptors’ journey to the NBA championship. Over 7.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the action.
Canada also has athletes that play in the WNBA. I’m talking Natalie Anchonwa, Kia Nurse and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe. The idea of a Toronto team could expand opportunities for them to become role models to young kids in their home country.
Besides the success in professional sports, Canada is also known for having a growing economy. The country is ranked among the top 10 in Gross Domestic Product. Canada’s amount ranges at $1,820.36 billion compared to the United States’ $21,482.41 billion. Toronto is one of the top Canadian cities economy wise and holds 18 percent of the GDP.
An additional WNBA team can also benefit the opportunity of expanding the league. There were 18 teams when the league was founded in 1997. Six of them folded in the early 2000s due to issues with attendance, revenue and deficiency of ownership.
The WNBA has been in a tough situation financially, since it was launched. It was reported that the league lost over $12 million in 2017. Players in the league receive 20 percent of salary during the season. Since the 2018 season, the players decided to abandon the current Collective Bargaining Agreement in pursuit for an increased salary. The WNBA has mostly relied on revenue received from TV and fan products to keep the doors open.
With the success of Canada’s economy and sport teams, Toronto could be an amazing opportunity for the WNBA to consider. I believe the benefits from this possible bid can turn around the league and make it more successful.
