Vancouver to host landmark WNBA game

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has announced plans to play its first regular-season game outside of the US, with Vancouver’s Rogers Arena to host the Atlanta Dream vs Seattle Storm next August.

It will mark the third WNBA game in Canada, after preseason games in Edmonton and Toronto. The WNBA has also hosted preseason games in Manchester, England and Monterrey, Mexico.

The Dream participated in the first preseason WNBA game in Europe when they defeated the Great Britain national team in Manchester back in 2011. The Storm took part in the Edmonton game earlier this year when they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks.

Rogers Arena primarily serves as the home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and is also used to host lacrosse, basketball and other sports.

The WNBA announced in May that a Toronto franchise would launch in 2026 to become the league’s first team outside of the US. The team will play its home games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said: “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. 

“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.”

The WNBA posted its highest total attendance in 22 years during the 2024 season, with 2,353,735 fans attending games across the campaign. Interest in the league has increased significantly this year following the emergence of Caitlin Clark, as well as other rookies such as Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and Kate Martin.

This year also saw the WNBA set records for digital consumption and merchandise sales, with the playoffs being the most viewed in 25 years. Viewership in Canada was also up 175% compared to the 2023 season.

In September, the WNBA announced that it would launch a franchise in Portland in 2026. A team owned by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors will also debut in 2025.