Sports
PWHL Vancouver and Seattle Reveal Team Names: Goldeneyes, and Torrent
When Vancouver’s new PWHL team hits the ice against Seattle on November 21, their name will already be etched at centre ice inside the Pacific Coliseum: the Vancouver Goldeneyes. The matchup will mark the debut of both west coast expansion teams: the Goldeneyes and the Seattle Torrent, as the league grows from six to eight teams.
The Goldeneyes’ identity draws straight from the natural world. Inspired by the common goldeneye, a sleek aquatic bird native to B.C., the name symbolizes protection, precision, and power — traits that define both the bird and the team. The logo’s “sunset gold” and “sky blue” accents pair with the primary palette of Pacific blue, coastal cream, and earthy bronze.
“It’s a perfect reflection of who we are,” said Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner of Surrey, B.C. “When I think of the Goldeneyes, I think of the landscape of British Columbia — the mountains, the ocean, and the grit that comes with growing up here.”
Kanan Bhatt-Shah, the PWHL’s vice president of brand and marketing, said nature was the common thread connecting both new franchises. “Nature is ever-present on the west coast — it shapes identity here. We wanted to capture that beauty, strength, and authenticity,” she told CBC Sports.
South of the border, Seattle’s team took a water-based approach. The Seattle Torrent’s branding channels the city’s waterways and constant rainfall, with a stylized “S” logo that suggests both the city name and the motion of rushing water. “Torrent really communicates strength, motion, and a cascade of energy,” Bhatt-Shah said.
Fans can already grab Goldeneyes and Torrent gear, though the official logos won’t appear on jerseys this season — those will feature city names across the chest, a tradition carried over from the league’s inaugural teams.
The PWHL’s new season begins November 21, with Toronto visiting defending Walter Cup champions Minnesota and the Torrent crossing the border to face the Goldeneyes. Vancouver’s home debut will be a celebration of women’s hockey finally planting roots on the Pacific coast.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Could Make WNBA Attendance History in Montreal
The Toronto Tempo are on the verge of making WNBA history when they bring their Cross-Canada Series to Montreal next month.
The Tempo will face the Atlanta Dream at the Bell Centre on July 10, with the possibility of setting a new attendance record for a WNBA game. If the game sells out, more than 22,000 fans would fill the arena, surpassing the current WNBA regular-season attendance record of 20,711 set by the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena in 2024.
A packed Bell Centre would also eclipse the WNBA playoff attendance record of 22,076, which was established during Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks before being matched in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. It would mark the largest crowd ever for a professional women’s basketball regular-season game, breaking the previous record of 21,490 set during an Unrivaled game in Philadelphia earlier this year.
The potential milestone comes during the Tempo‘s inaugural WNBA season and would add another chapter to the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.
“Playing two games in Montreal this summer is a huge moment for the Tempo and for basketball in Canada,” said Tempo President Teresa Resch. “From the beginning, we’ve said we want to be Canada’s team, and bringing the WNBA to Montreal is an important part of that vision. There is such a strong and passionate basketball community in Quebec, and we’re excited to connect with fans there in a meaningful way. We can’t wait to experience the energy inside the Bell Centre and continue growing the game across the country together.”
The Cross-Canada Series will offer more than basketball. Throughout the weekend, the Tempo will host community events, youth programs and fan experiences aimed at growing the sport across Quebec.
The team is partnering with Ball Her Way and the Mathurin Family Foundation to increase access to basketball for young athletes, including a girls’ 3-on-3 tournament presented by Canadian Tire featuring teams from Montreal and Quebec City. The Tempo say more community investments and programming in the Montreal area will be announced in the coming months.
Fans can take part in Tempo Live at the Bell Centre on July 11. The free event will include interactive basketball activities, community clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly entertainment.
The weekend concludes on July 12, when the Tempo host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty at the Bell Centre at 3 p.m. ET as part of the Cross-Canada Series.
Tickets for both Montreal games are available through Ticketmaster.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Reveal Opening Day Roster for Inaugural WNBA Season
The Toronto Tempo have officially announced their Opening Day roster, marking another milestone as the franchise prepares to begin its first season in the WNBA.
The inaugural squad brings together a mix of experienced veterans, international players, and promising rookies, giving the expansion team a balanced foundation as it enters the league.
To finalize the roster, Toronto waived Aaliyah Nye, Kitija Laksa, and Nina Milic. The Tempo will retain the rights to Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Saffron Shiels, Charlisse Dunn, and Yvonne Ejim, keeping each player in the organization’s long-term plans.
The roster announcement comes just days before the franchise makes its long-awaited regular-season debut. The Tempo will host the Washington Mystics in their first-ever home game on May 8 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Toronto enters the 2026 campaign as the WNBA‘s newest franchise, becoming the league’s first Canadian team and ushering in a new era for professional women’s basketball in the country. The season opener marks the beginning of what the organization hopes will be a landmark year for the sport in Canada.
| No. | Name | Po. | Height (ft) | DOB | Exp. | Prev. | Country |
| 1 | Kiki Rice | G | 5’11 | 2004-01-14 | R | UCLA | USA |
| 2 | Laura Juškaitė | W | 6’4 | 1997-09-22 | R | — | Lithuania |
| 3 | Marina Mabrey | G | 6’1 | 1996-09-14 | 7 | Notre Dame | USA |
| 7 | Teonni Key | F | 6’4.5 | 2003-07-10 | R | Kentucky | USA |
| 8 | Nyara Sabally | F | 6’5 | 2000-02-26 | 3 | Oregon | Germany |
| 10 | María Conde | W | 6’3 | 1997-01-14 | R | Florida State | Spain |
| 11 | Kia Nurse | G | 6’0.5 | 1996-02-22 | 7 | Connecticut | Canada |
| 12 | Lexi Held | G | 5’9.5 | 1999-12-28 | 1 | DePaul | USA |
| 14 | Temi Fágbénlé | C | 6’5 | 1992-09-08 | 5 | Southern California/Harvard | United Kingdom |
| 20 | Brittney Sykes | W | 5’11 | 1994-02-07 | 9 | Syracuse | USA |
| 21 | Isabelle Harrison | F | 6’5 | 1993-09-27 | 8 | Tennessee | USA |
| 22 | Julie Allemand | G | 5’10.5 | 1996-07-07 | 3 | — | Belgium |
| 34 | Mariella Fasoula* | C | 6’4.5 | 1997-09-02 | R | Vanderbilt | Greece |