Sports
Vancouver Rise FC Win the 2025 NSL Final
Vancouver Rise FC closed out the season with a trophy in hand, taking the 2025 NSL Final presented by Toyota with a 2–1 win over AFC Toronto on Saturday. The victory makes them the first club to lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup and the inaugural NSL Playoff Champions.
“We opened the very first game in NSL history, and tonight we close the season as its first champions,” said Vancouver Rise FC President Sinead King. “It’s a full-circle moment that reflects the belief, hard work, and heart of everyone at Vancouver Rise FC. I’m so proud of this team and equally proud of what the Northern Super League has built in year one.”
AFC Toronto struck first, with Kaylee Hunter finding the net in the opening half. A 30-minute weather delay stalled the action, but once play resumed, Rise FC took control. Nikki Stanton and Holly Ward scored in the second half, flipping the match and securing the win. After the final whistle, goalkeeper Morgan McAslan was named 2025 NSL Final MVP for her standout performance.
With traveling fans in full voice, Rise FC lifted the league’s first playoff trophy, an image that will sit in club history for years.
“Lifting the first NSL Cup is a special milestone for our club,” said Interim Sporting Director Robyn Gayle. “Every 90 minutes on the pitch is a product of the hours, days, weeks, and months of commitment invested away from it. I want to thank our players, our staff, everyone behind the scenes, our fans, the Crows, and all who have supported us in our journey to this moment.”
The title caps a season that pushed the team across the country and through a long list of challenges. Rise FC put together an eight-match unbeaten streak, logged two dominant 6–0 wins, and ended the regular season in third place with the strongest home form in the league. Their playoff run included a tense semi-final against Ottawa Rapid FC, decided on penalties.
Fans will get a chance to celebrate with the team on Wednesday, November 19 at Hollywood Theatre from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with player speeches, team introductions, and another chance to see the trophy up close.
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.