Sports
PWHL Eyes Expansion for 2025-26 Season, Keeping All Options Open
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is setting the stage for potential expansion, with league executives exploring the addition of up to two new teams for the 2025-26 season. The organization has made it clear that no North American market is off the table as they look to build on the momentum from their inaugural season.
Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford emphasized the league’s open-minded approach, stating, “I don’t think we rule out any market. This is a good opportunity for us to learn and continue to explore. So everything’s on the table right now.”
To illustrate just how broad the search will be, Senior Vice President for Business Operations Amy Scheer revealed that the PWHL is preparing to send out over 20 requests for proposals for expansion by next week, with even more potential markets able to approach the league on their own. “I think we want to be an open book, and I think we want to be open to things that we haven’t thought about or things that we haven’t considered,” she said. “Until we have the data and the facts and the conversations, we might be surprised. So let’s go for it.”
Identifying Potential Expansion Cities
The initial timeline calls for proposals to be submitted by the end of December, at which point the league will assess interest and feasibility. While the goal is to introduce two new teams by next year, Hefford and Scheer are cautious about making guarantees.
The league, which currently includes teams in Boston, Newark (New Jersey), St. Paul (Minnesota), Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, is keeping all possibilities open. Market size, arena access, economic partnerships, and fan engagement will be key considerations in determining new locations.
Several cities have already emerged as potential candidates. In the U.S., Detroit and Pittsburgh stand out, having hosted neutral-site games last season. Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver are also in contention. Meanwhile, in Canada, Quebec City has expressed its desire to join the league, while Calgary, a former home to the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s Inferno, remains an attractive option. Southern California and Seattle are also under consideration. “This is a good opportunity for us to learn and continue to explore,” Hefford reiterated.
A League on the Rise
Expansion discussions come at an opportune time for the PWHL, which has had time to stabilize following a whirlwind inaugural season. The league was launched in June 2023 after Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter acquired and merged the Premier Hockey Federation into the new organization. With Walter’s financial backing, the league has secured long-term stability, allowing for steady growth.
The PWHL made a strong first impression, averaging nearly 5,500 fans per game across its 72-game regular season. The league also set a record for women’s professional hockey attendance when 21,105 fans packed the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens arena for a matchup between Toronto and Montreal. Major sponsorships with brands like Scotiabank, Air Canada, Discover, and Hyundai have bolstered its financial outlook, and a YouTube streaming deal has attracted 113,000 subscribers.
With an expanded 30-game schedule this season, up from 24 last year, the PWHL is looking at even more ambitious projects for the future, including a potential outdoor game and international matchups in Europe.
Expanding the Talent Pool
Beyond business growth, expansion would help accommodate a rising number of elite players looking to compete at the highest level. In June, 167 players from 19 countries declared for the PWHL draft, but only 42 were selected. Adding new teams would open more roster spots for both European players and the next wave of U.S. college graduates.
“The talent pool is only going to continue to grow,” Hefford noted, reinforcing the need for strategic expansion.
While no final decisions have been made, the PWHL is committed to making thoughtful, sustainable choices. “We will make the right decisions based on growth for hockey, financial decisions, what is the best way to move forward,” Scheer said. “Nobody here is making rash decisions.”
As for the long-term vision, Hefford remains optimistic but cautious about setting a definitive cap on the number of teams. “We know we want to grow,” she said. “But I have a really hard time throwing out a number right now.”
With its second season set to begin on Nov. 30, the PWHL is proving that women’s hockey has a bright and expansive future ahead.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Reveal 2026 Inaugural Season Schedule With Coast-to-Coast Home Games
The Toronto Tempo have officially released their 2026 inaugural season schedule, setting the stage for the franchise’s first year in the WNBA. The season tips off at home on Friday, May 8, with a matchup against the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Tempo will play a full 44-game regular season, split evenly between home and road games. Fans across Canada will get a chance to see the team in action, with 22 home games spread across four venues. Toronto will host the majority of those games, with 15 dates at Coca-Cola Coliseum and three games at Scotiabank Arena. The team will take its home court on the road as well, playing two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre and two at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Each opponent will face the Tempo at least three times during the season. The home schedule leans fan-friendly, with 14 weekend games and eight weekday matchups. A nine-game homestand from June 25 to July 20 marks the longest stretch at home. League-wide action pauses for the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago on July 24 and 25, followed by a longer break from August 31 to September 14 for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
General manager Monica Wright Rogers called the schedule release a major step for the franchise. She said the inaugural season will reflect the energy and competitive edge Toronto fans have been waiting for, and that the team looks forward to creating memorable moments across the league.
Founding partners CIBC and Sephora Canada will present the Tempo’s four home games outside Toronto. Montreal will host games in July against the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty. Vancouver will welcome the team in August for matchups with the Portland Fire and Las Vegas Aces.
Several marquee games headline the home slate. Three matchups at Scotiabank Arena feature the Phoenix Mercury on June 27, the Minnesota Lynx on July 30, and the Indiana Fever on August 18. Expansion rival Portland Fire visits Toronto on May 23, then meets the Tempo again at Rogers Arena on August 21. The Golden State Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team, arrive at Coca-Cola Coliseum on July 8. Defending champions Las Vegas Aces face the Tempo twice, once in Toronto on July 20 and again in Vancouver on August 23.
The 2026 season will mark the Tempo’s first appearance in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase. The team will play six Cup games against Eastern Conference opponents, split evenly between home and road, from June 3 to 16. Each game counts toward the regular-season standings.
Momentum around the franchise continues to build. On December 11, 2025, the Tempo announced that inaugural season ticket memberships had sold out. Fans looking for single-game tickets can sign up for updates through the team’s website. Ticket alerts are available for both the Vancouver and Montreal games, giving fans nationwide a chance to be part of the Tempo’s first season on the floor.
For more information on the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season, please visit tempo.wnba.com.
Sports
The Harlem Globetrotters Bring Their 100 Year Tour to Vancouver
The Harlem Globetrotters are hitting a huge milestone and Vancouver is on the route. The legendary basketball crew will stop at Pacific Coliseum on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 as part of their 100 Year Tour, a global run marking a full century of jaw-dropping hoops and crowd-first fun.
This tour tips its cap to the past and keeps its foot on the gas. Early icons like Curly Neal, Meadowlark Lemon, Wilt Chamberlain, and Goose Tatum set the tone decades ago. The current roster carries that same spirit with stars like Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, and TNT bringing the noise. Expect monster dunks, slick trick shots, and nonstop interaction from warm-up to the final buzzer.
The Globetrotters will face their longtime rivals, the Washington Generals, in a game that mixes real athletic skill with comedy and chaos. It’s basketball, sure. It’s entertainment first.
To mark the centennial, the team is rolling out fresh touches. That includes limited-edition 100-year jerseys designed by fashion legend Jeff Hamilton, the debut of the Golden Basketball by Spalding®, upgraded Magic Pass pre-game access, and a commemorative souvenir ticket for fans who want proof they were there.
The current squad features elite male and female athletes who hold more than 60 Guinness World Records. Eighteen of those came in the past year alone. That stat says plenty.
The North American leg of the tour runs through spring 2026 before heading overseas. Vancouver gets one night. One chance. History, jokes, dunks, and chaos included.
Event details:
Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Tickets on sale now: https://ticketleader.evenue.net/events/HGT
Bring the kids, bring your inner kid. The Globetrotters still know how to put on a show.