Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Sign Canadian International Latifah Abdu
Vancouver Rise FC announced on Saturday that the club has reached a transfer agreement with Montréal Roses FC for Canadian forward Latifah Abdu.
“We’re excited to welcome Latifah to the club,” said Interim Sporting Director Robyn Gale. “She brings quality and a fierce competitive edge, and she has already shown in this league the type of impact she can make. Her presence will strengthen our group while adding another dangerous element to our attack.”
Abdu, 23, joins from fellow Northern Super League side Montréal Roses FC after registering 1312 minutes in 16 matches for the Québec side, where she scored six goals and registered one assist. Her six goals place her third highest scorer in the NSL, emphasizing her clinical nature in front of goal.
“I’m proud to be joining Vancouver Rise FC” said Abdu on her signing. “I want to thank all those that made this happen, and I’m grateful to stay in the NSL. I am looking forward to participating in this new project and growing with my new teammates.”
Before joining Roses FC, Abdu played in France for three years. She began with FC Metz (D2) in 2022, scoring four goals in 10 matches. A transfer to RC Strasbourg (D2) followed, where she scored 12 goals in 18 matches during the 2022/23 season. This led to a move to D1 side Dijon FCO for the 2023/24 season. She then started the 2024/25 season with EA Guingamp (D1), before returning to Montréal in January.
“We are very excited about the signing of Latifah [Abdu],” said Rise FC Head Coach Anja Heiner-Møller. “She is an excellent forward that has shown her qualities already in the Northern Super League and we are looking forward to adding her to the club”.
In her youth, Abdu was a standout in the Première ligue de soccer du Québec (PLSQ). She scored 10 goals over two seasons with Lac Saint-Louis and CS Monteuil before a brief stint with France’s ASJ Soyaux. Upon returning to play for CS Mont-Royal Outremont, she won the 2021 PLSQ Golden Boot and the Ballon de Bronze award as the league’s third-best player, which led to her return to Europe.
As part of the agreement and out of respect for her former team, Abdu will be ineligible for selection in 2025 regular season matches against Roses FC.
Latifah Abdu
Pronunciation: La-TEE-fah Ab-DOO
Position: Forward
Height: 5-07
Date of Birth: October 18, 2001 in Montréal, Québec, Canada
Hometown: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
Previous Clubs: Montréal Roses FC (Canada), EA Guingamp (France), FCO Dijon (France), RC Strasbourg (France), FC Metz (France), CS Mont-Royal Outremont (Canada), ASJ Soyaux (France)
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.