Players, coaches excited for historic WNBA game in Canada

It has been 26 years since the first WNBA game was played. The ball went up on the historic matchup on June 27, 1997, between the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty. Almost three decades later, another monumental moment in women’s sports is happening.

The league is holding its first game in Canada when the Chicago Sky takes on the Minnesota Lynx at Scotiabank Arena.

Tickets for the game sold-out fast, and with expansion talks for the league (Yes, Toronto is in the conversation), this is a test run to see if a franchise would work north of the border.

There are only 12 teams in the WNBA, and more are needed to showcase talent worldwide. Presently, there is only one Canadian on either roster — Bridget Carleton of Chatham-Kent, Ont., who plays for the Lynx.

CityNews spoke to the coaches and several players from both teams before tip-off.

(CN) We are just a few hours away from tip-off. What were your reactions when you initially heard you would be playing in the first WNBA game in Canada?

Napheesa Collier (Forward, Minnesota Lynx)

It’s really exciting. Just from that last time I was here in March, I could feel the buzz. And now that we’re finally actually getting ready to play the game tomorrow, I’m so excited!

Rachel Banham (Guard, Minnesota Lynx)

I was so excited. I was just really happy for Bridget, too, because you get to come home and play in front of your family. And that was really special, especially because I know what that’s like. I’m from Minnesota, and playing in Minnesota, it’s just so cool. It’s the first ever game in Canada that we can say that we’ve done this like down the road, like ‘I played there!’ and it’s good for women’s basketball. I’m excited to see how it is and the crowd.

Cheryl Reeve (Head Coach, Minnesota Lynx)

We can feel the vibe. We felt it. Gosh, when they announced that the tickets were going on sale, it sort of reverberated through the WNBA communities where clearly folks are excited up here. And so we were excited that we were one of the teams that would be coming up here and being able to play for the Canadian fans.

Dana Evans (Guard, Chicago Sky):

I’m just excited for our fans to witness just a new group. We have a new roster. I’m excited for them to see new faces. I feel like WNBA and women’s basketball, in general, is growing. So it’s nice to see that.

Courtney Williams (Guard, Chicago Sky)

I just found out that it sold out so fast. When the game was announced, I was in free agency, so I didn’t know I would be here. So I wasn’t keeping up with it all and just hearing how it sold out, I think that’s so dope. The fact that they are showing up and showing out like that, I’m excited.

James Wade (Head Coach, Chicago Sky)

I’m excited because when we got to Toronto, we saw all the commercials and advertisements about the WNBA’s first game, and it was great to see. And you can feel the energy. We saw so many WNBA T-shirts and saw some jerseys on the streets and stuff like that and it’s been amazing. To actually see that this nation supports women’s basketball at the highest level was very welcoming to us. We will try our best to put on a great show for you guys.

Kayla McBride (Guard, Minnesota Lynx)

It’s remarkable just to see everybody get so excited about it. Obviously, being here in Toronto, we know the Raptors and stuff like that, but bringing the WNBA here, people are always talking about it. But to actually be here and feel the energy and obviously play with Bridge, and I know there are a couple of other Canadians in our league, I think it’s just really special for them to come here and be able to play in front of their own country.

(CN) With this game, it will somewhat set the stage to see if Toronto could handle an expansion team. As a player, what are your thoughts on a potential expansion team to Canada?

Bridget Carleton (Forward, Minnesota Lynx)

I obviously think Toronto would be a great market. I know I am biased (laughs), but I think we’re proving that with this weekend.

It’s almost like a trial run to see what it would be like to have a double NBA team here. Obviously, with the success of the Raptors, winning a championship in 2019, you can feel the excitement around basketball in general in Canada. And there’s a culture about it that people want to be a part of. It’s not just about putting the ball in the hoop as you know, as simple as that is. It’s about going to games, engaging on social media like the whole thing around basketball.

So it’s exciting to be a part of that growth. I think we’re proving that Toronto is a good market for that and obviously expanding the WNBA is definitely in the near future, hopefully.

Minnesota Lynx guard Bridget Carleton. (Minnesota Lynx/Twitter).

Courtney Willams (Guard, Chicago Sky)

I think that would be dope! There are so many great basketball players and not enough room. I think especially with the game selling out, I mean, there is definitely space here; it’s just more so working out the logistics of it all and making it happen.

James Wade (Head Coach, Chicago Sky)

I think we have some trial runs just getting through customs and stuff like that. But a lot of us are used to like living in Europe and playing internationally in China and stuff like that. So we’re used to liking the customs and getting through it and all of that but it was really smooth for us to come to Toronto.

What’s unique about it is if you guys were to have a team, it wouldn’t be just a team representing a city. It would be a team representing the nation. And I think that’s always something that draws in extra support because you have fans from, as far as Vancouver to Toronto, that would take pride in this team. And so I think it could be very unique and very special because we don’t have a team like that yet.

Diamond Miller (Guard, Minnesota Lynx)

I’m definitely happy to be a part of it! And one thing I just think about is the women’s game constantly growing and if it could grow here in Canada, that is something that we want to do, especially with the expansion talk. If Canada is the new home for a new WNBA team, I think it would be a great fit. So it’s really exciting to be a woman in sports right now, especially with so much history, positive history going on.

(CN) For so many Canadians this will be not only their first WNBA game, but their first professional basketball game.

Do you remember a time in your career when you were playing when people were just happy to see both teams succeed?

James Wade (Head Coach, Chicago Sky)

I mean, not like this. You know, they will be cheering for everything, the kids to just be cheering for baskets and, you know, hopefully, I’ll speak in my Canadian accent “Eh” you know, and people they’ll cheer for us a little bit more {laughs}

Bridget Carleton (Forward, Minnesota Lynx)

I mean it’s pretty surreal. You know, growing up I never imagined WNBA associated with Canada at all. So to be a part of this game is super special and feeling the excitement around it being here. We’re really excited to be here and obviously, I’m super, super excited to be a part of it because it means a lot to have kind of Two of my worlds collide.

Napheesa Collier (Forward, Minnesota Lynx)

The city feels so excited. This game sold out in 10 minutes. It feels like everyone is already welcoming us. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.

Cheryl Reeve (Head Coach, Minnesota Lynx):

Yeah, you know, that is interesting. It’s great for the game and players and fans because the fans will be learning about some of these players and just the feel of a WNBA game. Maybe the closest experience to fans just cheering for both sides would be an All-Star Game, it would be similar to where kind of people come just to be entertained. So maybe a little bit it would feel like that. You know, obviously, for the teams that are playing, it’s anything but an All-Star Game. There definitely going to be playing more defence than an All-Star Game {laughs}.

Courtney Willams (Guard, Chicago Sky)

I think that’s funny. I think Canadians are just going to cheer for all of us as fans but, I think they’re going to make their decision once we start playing. We’ve got to go out there, play hard, and just show them good basketball.

You can watch the game at 4 PM on Sportsnet.