Sports
Vancouver Goldeneyes Outlast Seattle Torrent in Wild OT Finish to Open a New Era
Vancouver’s new PWHL team couldn’t have asked for a louder welcome. Nearly 15,000 fans packed into the Pacific Coliseum on Friday night for the Goldeneyes’ first-ever game, and they got a thriller out of it: a 4–3 overtime win over the Seattle Torrent that felt like the launch of a fierce west coast rivalry.
It was the debut for both expansion teams, and the energy in the rink felt almost too big to contain. Christine Sinclair handled the ceremonial puck drop, Meghan Agosta delivered the puck, and the crowd was already buzzing by the time the opening faceoff hit the ice.
Seattle struck first. Julia Gosling made history with the Torrent’s inaugural goal late in the opening period, then added a second minutes later. Vancouver replied quickly, with Sarah Nurse scoring the first goal in Goldeneyes history after picking off a turnover and snapping one home. She later said the whole night felt different with the arena, the atmosphere, the fact that this team finally has a place built for them.
Vancouver spent most of the night playing catch-up. They pushed early but couldn’t solve Seattle goalie Corinne Schroeder, who was sharp from the jump. It wasn’t until the third period that things cracked open again, when Gabby Rosenthal tied the game 2–2 less than a minute in. Seattle answered back with a goal from Hannah Bilka, putting the Torrent up again with just over six minutes left.
The Goldeneyes looked calm, though. Abby Boreen said the coaches kept things simple: don’t panic, just keep grinding. And that’s exactly what Claire Thompson did when she jumped up late, buried the tying goal, and sent the game to overtime. Thompson also picked up an assist earlier, giving her a two-point night and a big role in shaping the Goldeneyes’ first chapter.
Overtime didn’t last long. Tereza Vanišová tore up the ice and threaded a pass across the slot to Boreen, who shoveled it in just 1:46 into the extra frame. The building blew up. The Goldeneyes finally had their first win, and they did it without holding a lead during regulation.
Maschmeyer made 24 saves in the win, her first season-opening victory after back-to-back losses with Ottawa. Schroeder stopped 23 at the other end.
There were plenty of other pieces of history sprinkled throughout the night. Jenn Gardiner became the first B.C.-born Goldeneye to record a point. The starting lineup featured three local forwards: Gardiner, Hannah Miller, and Katie Chan. A handful of rookies made their PWHL debuts, including Vancouver’s Michelle Karvinen and Madison Samoskevich, and Seattle’s Jenna Buglioni, who grew up just across the border in Port Moody. Hilary Knight tallied her 20th career assist. Gosling posted her second multi-goal game in the league. And Vancouver became the league’s first team to play its home opener with its own logo painted at center ice.
But the biggest storyline was the scene inside the Coliseum. The Goldeneyes are the first PWHL team to anchor their own arena, and the place looked fully transformed: merch booths overflowing, fresh branding everywhere, and fans wearing blue in every direction. The attendance of 14,958 cracked the top ten in league history.
Head coach Brian Idalski said the atmosphere felt unreal and that the team’s resilience impressed him. There were mistakes, sure, but nothing he seemed too worried about for opening night.
By the time the players left the ice, people were still lingering in the stands. It felt like something had shifted for the sport in the city.
The Goldeneyes head out on the road next, facing Ottawa on Wednesday. Seattle returns home to host Minnesota on Nov. 28.
If Friday was any hint, this new west coast chapter is going to be fun.
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 Unveil Bold “Rebel” Uniform Ahead of Inaugural Home Opener
The Toronto Tempo have revealed their new “Rebel” edition uniform, giving fans a first look at the alternate jersey the team will wear during its inaugural WNBA season.
The unveiling comes just ahead of the Tempo’s first-ever home opener and marks another milestone for the league’s newest franchise as it continues to establish its identity on and off the court.
The Rebel uniform is part of the WNBA’s league-wide alternate jersey program, which encourages each franchise to create a design that reflects its values, community, and culture. For the Tempo, that vision extends beyond Toronto.
The front of the jersey features “Tempo” across the chest, reinforcing the organization’s message that, while the club calls Toronto home, it represents basketball fans across Canada. The design is centered around the team’s secondary “T” logo, with speed lines extending outward to symbolize movement, pace, and the style of play the Tempo hope to bring to the court.
The uniform is finished in Borealis Blue, offering a cool contrast to the team’s signature Tempo Bordeaux colour. Flowing lines throughout the shorts are meant to capture the rhythm and motion of basketball, creating a look that emphasizes speed and constant movement.
The jersey also highlights two of the franchise’s founding partners. Beauty retailer Sephora appears on the shoulder, while CIBC’s logo is featured on the front of the jersey.
“The Rebel uniform is where we push boundaries and fully express who we are as the Toronto Tempo,” said Whitney Bell, the team’s Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “It’s bold, unapologetic, and rooted in the energy of our city. Every detail is designed to celebrate individuality, creativity, and the next generation of athletes and fans redefining the game. This jersey isn’t just something you wear—it’s a statement about where we’re going.”
Fans won’t have to wait long to get their own. The Toronto Tempo’s Rebel jersey is available now through the team’s online store (shop.torontotempo.com) as excitement continues to build for the franchise’s first season in the WNBA.