A Big Win for Canadian Women's Basketball
Ottawa sports fans who've been riding the wave of women's professional hockey with PWHL Ottawa have more reason to celebrate — Canadian women's sports just got another major boost. The WNBA's Toronto Tempo announced Friday that a dedicated practice facility will be built at Exhibition Place, located near the team's home arena, Coca-Cola Coliseum, with doors set to open in 2028.
It's a milestone moment not just for Toronto, but for the entire country — and Ottawa fans have been paying close attention.
What the Facility Means for Canada
Having a purpose-built WNBA training centre in Canada is a statement. Until now, many professional women's basketball operations have made do with shared or temporary facilities. A permanent home base signals that the Tempo — and the league — are here for the long haul north of the border.
For Ottawa, which has watched PWHL Ottawa transform local appetite for women's professional sports, the Tempo's facility news adds fuel to conversations about what's possible for women's athletics in this country. The capital's fans have shown they'll show up, sell out arenas, and back women's teams with genuine enthusiasm.
Ottawa's Growing Women's Sports Culture
Over the past two seasons, Ottawa has become something of a benchmark for women's sports fandom in Canada. PWHL Ottawa's home games have drawn passionate, sold-out crowds, and the city's sports community has increasingly looked southward — and westward — for more leagues and teams to follow.
The Tempo, which began play in the 2025 WNBA season as part of the league's Canadian expansion, drew significant interest from Ottawa fans who made the drive to Toronto or tuned in from home. A proper practice facility elevates the franchise's credibility and long-term stability, which matters to fans in every Canadian city rooting for the team's success.
Looking Ahead to 2028
Exhibition Place is already a well-known destination for major events and sports in Toronto, and adding a WNBA training hub to its footprint only deepens its role as a hub for Canadian athletics. The facility is expected to support player development, team operations, and potentially community programming as well.
For Ottawa residents who've been dreaming of what a WNBA expansion to the capital might look like someday, the Tempo's growing infrastructure is worth watching closely — it's a proof of concept that Canadian cities can sustain and support women's pro basketball at the highest level.
In the meantime, expect Ottawa fans to keep backing the Tempo from afar, road-tripping to Coca-Cola Coliseum, and hoping that the league's Canadian footprint keeps expanding.
Source: Global News Ottawa — WNBA's Tempo to have practice facility built at Exhibition Place
