The WNBA will have a preseason game in Canada for the first time this year, as the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx will meet May 13 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The league begins its 27th season on May 19.
The WNBA announced its foray into Canada on Wednesday. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said exposure globally is growing for the WNBA, which had native Canadians Natalie Achonwa, Bridget Carleton and Kia Nurse on rosters last season.
This is the third WNBA preseason game to be played outside of the United States, following games in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2004, and Manchester, England, in 2011.
“We’ve seen record WNBA viewership over the last two seasons in Canada,” Engelbert said in a video call with media. “So we’re excited to bring a fan to those fans live. Globalizing the WNBA game has been a key pillar of how we’re trying to grow the league and go through our business transformation. Playing a game in Canada is a significant milestone for us. This is just our first step in hosting more events like this.
“We’re looking to transform the economics of the league, and as…
