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
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
2026 Stars On Ice Announces Olympic Bronze Medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirierat in Vancouver
Canadian figure skating fans are getting a rare post-Olympic victory lap moment this spring.
Fresh off the 2026 Winter Olympics, the country’s top skaters are heading out on the 2026 edition of Stars on Ice, with a stop in Vancouver set for May 12 at Rogers Arena.
Leading the lineup are Olympic bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. Their free dance this season, inspired by The Starry Night, helped secure their first Olympic podium and quickly became one of the most talked-about programs of the Games.
They’ll be joined by a stacked group of Canadian talent, including world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. Also on the bill: four-time national champion Madeline Schizas, and rising pair team Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who recently picked up medals on the world stage.
The tour leans heavily into nostalgia too. Canadian icon Elvis Stojko returns as a central figure, still known for the kind of power and speed that made him a standout in the ’90s. Kaetlyn Osmond, one of the country’s most decorated skaters with Olympic gold, silver, and bronze to her name, is back as well.
Rounding out the cast are fan favourites Keegan Messing and Roman Sadovsky, with Sadovsky making his Stars on Ice debut. For the Vancouver show, guest performers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac will join the lineup.
Behind the scenes, Kurt Browning returns as director and choreographer. His work has shaped the tour for years, blending technical skating with a more theatrical style that plays well in an arena setting.
The Vancouver stop is set for 7:00 p.m., with tickets already on sale through the usual outlets. Prices start at $35, with premium on-ice seating and group options available. More information on the Stars On Ice website.