Sports
Tickets Are On Sale For The WNBA Regular Season Game At Rogers Arena
Vancouver’s run of major women’s sports milestones keeps rolling. The city already welcomed its first professional women’s soccer team, Vancouver Rise, and scored a Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise. Now, basketball is stepping in to round out the trio.
On August 15, Rogers Arena will host a landmark game between the Atlanta Dream and the Seattle Storm, marking the first-ever WNBA regular season game held outside the U.S.
Fans have been buzzing since the game was first announced in December. Tickets finally go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
“This is a monumental moment for the WNBA, and we are honoured that the league chose the Dream to participate in the first regular-season game outside the U.S,” said Atlanta Dream president and COO Morgan Shaw Parker. “We look forward to showcasing our amazing athletes on a global stage in Vancouver. Members of our team have competed internationally, and now they will be doing so wearing Dream colours and representing the city of Atlanta.”
The WNBA tested the waters in Canada in 2023 with sold-out preseason games in Toronto and Edmonton, showing just how strong the appetite is for women’s hoops north of the border. The league later announced Toronto and Portland will become expansion cities in 2026.
This will be the fifth WNBA game played outside of the U.S., joining a 2004 matchup in Mexico and earlier games in Canada and England. The Dream already made history once overseas, playing in the WNBA’s first preseason events in Europe back in 2011.
“The WNBA Canada Game has been a tremendous opportunity to grow our league’s footprint, and we look forward to hosting the first international regular season game with the Seattle Storm’s return to Canada to face the Atlanta Dream,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “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.”
Both teams are off to solid starts this season. The Dream, sitting second in the East with a 3-2 record, are coming off their second consecutive playoff appearance. Their roster includes Brittney Griner, the 6-foot-8 star center and former No. 1 pick who made global headlines after her 2022 detainment in Russia and eventual return home via a prisoner exchange.
Seattle, a four-time WNBA champion, is 3-1 and holding strong in the West. Their stacked lineup features nine-time All-Star and 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike, sharpshooter Jewell Loyd, and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Vancouver’s basketball fans are in for a historic night, and it’s a big one for the WNBA too!
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Reveal 2026 “After Dark” Home Kit
Vancouver Rise FC has revealed its new “After Dark” home kit for the 2026 Northern Super League season, pulling inspiration straight from the natural setting that surrounds its home at Swangard Stadium.
The design pays tribute to Central Park in Burnaby, with visuals that reflect the quiet, layered beauty of the park at night. Tree silhouettes stretch across the kit, creating a sense of depth and movement—meant to mirror the experience of looking up through the canopy after dark.
The club says the concept ties closely to its motto, “Stronger by Nature,” grounding the team’s identity in the environment that surrounds it. The design blends all crest colours with added tones that bring warmth and balance, giving the kit a look that feels both rooted and refined. Paired with classic shorts and socks, it leans into tradition while still telling a clear local story.
A key detail returns on both the After Dark kit and the club’s secondary “Sunshine Kit” for 2026. A Gold Pointed Star sits on the left sleeve, marking Vancouver Rise FC as the inaugural champions of the Northern Super League. The patch represents the league’s top honour and signals the club’s early place in its history.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley praised the design and its connection to the community, pointing to the pride residents have in their parks and green spaces. He added that seeing Central Park reflected in the team’s identity makes the return to Swangard Stadium for the new season feel even more meaningful.
The After Dark kit leans heavily into place and atmosphere. It’s less about flash and more about identity—something that feels tied to where the team plays and who shows up for them.
Pre-orders for both the After Dark and Sunshine kits are now available through the club’s official store, with options for delivery or in-stadium pickup.
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Transfer Holly Ward to NWSL Side Seattle Reign FC
Vancouver Rise FC has made a major statement about its player development pathway. The club announced Friday that winger Holly Ward has been transferred to Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League for an undisclosed fee.
The move marks the first time a Rise FC Academy graduate has been transferred out of the club, setting a new benchmark for the organization and the broader Northern Super League.
Sporting director Stephanie Labbé called the transfer a defining moment. She pointed to Ward’s rise through the system as proof that the league is doing what it set out to do—create real opportunities for Canadian players.
Ward’s journey with the club began in 2018 when she joined the Rise FC Academy, then known as the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy. Seven years later, she returned home to sign her first professional deal ahead of the 2025 season.
The 22-year-old from North Vancouver wasted no time making an impact. She started 27 of 28 matches in her rookie campaign, scoring eight goals and adding five assists. Her biggest moment came in the league’s inaugural final, where she scored the winner in a 2–1 victory over AFC Toronto to secure the Diana B. Matheson Cup.
Speaking about the move, Ward described her time in Vancouver as a dream realized. Playing professionally in her hometown and helping deliver a championship made the experience hard to leave behind, though she expressed excitement about the next step in her career.
Her breakout season didn’t go unnoticed at the international level. Ward earned her first senior call-up to the Canadian women’s national team and made history on June 3 by becoming the first NSL player to score for Canada in a match against Haiti.
Head coach Anja Heiner-Møller praised Ward’s growth and character, highlighting her attacking ability, work ethic, and presence in the locker room. She noted that Ward’s development—from academy prospect to national team contributor—reflects the strength of the club’s environment.
The transfer is a significant step for Rise FC as it begins to participate in the global player market, something the club sees as key to long-term growth. It also reinforces the idea that young Canadian players can develop at home and still reach top leagues abroad.
Rise FC now turns its focus to the upcoming season. The club will open its 2026 campaign with a championship rematch against AFC Toronto on April 24 at Swangard Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. PT.
Fans can purchase single-match tickets or explore package options, including season memberships that cover all 13 home games and flexible ticket bundles built around the home opener.