WNBA’s Vancouver game marks a turning point for the league
Excitement radiated in Rogers Arena, signaling the reach professional women’s basketball is having in Canada
The Vancouver match between the Storm and Dream was the WNBA’s first regular-season game outside of the U.S. (Fleur Dias)
This month, I found myself in Rogers Arena for something I never thought I would see in my lifetime: a WNBA regular-season game on Canadian soil.
The Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream were the ones to make history, but as a fan in the stands, I felt like I was part of it, too.
What struck me right away was the atmosphere. Even though this was technically an Atlanta “home” game, it certainly did not feel that way. The short trip up north meant that Storm fans filled the building, and from where I was sitting, it felt like a Seattle takeover.
Rhyne Howard admitted afterward that it was hard for Atlanta to ignore — and she was right. The cheers, chants and even a crowd-led call-and-response drowned out the official attempts to hype up the Dream.
On the court, the game itself lived up to the occasion. Seattle came in desperate to stop a six-game losing skid, while Atlanta was trying to regain form after a strong start to the season. The Storm held a slim lead late, but the Dream clawed back in the fourth quarter to make it tight.
Skylar Diggins took control when it mattered most, scoring crucial baskets and keeping her composure. Ezi Magbegor stepped up defensively, coming through with momentum-shifting blocks. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Seattle had edged out Atlanta 80-78, and Rogers Arena erupted like it had just hosted a playoff win.
Being part of that crowd of nearly 16,000 felt surreal. Diggins later said it “felt like a Storm home game,” and sitting there in the stands, I knew she was telling the truth. The energy was authentic and constant, carrying from start to finish.
As much as the game was about the scoreline, it also carried a bigger significance. This was not only the WNBA’s first-ever regular-season game outside of the United States, it was also a glimpse of what is coming next. Toronto’s expansion team, the Tempo, is set to debut in 2026, and this felt like a dress rehearsal for the league’s future in Canada. The success of the night sent a clear message: there is an audience here and it’s ready.
Walking out of the arena that night, I knew I had just witnessed something more than a sporting event. It was a turning point, a signal that the WNBA’s reach is growing, and Canada will soon be part of that story in a lasting way. For me, it was a privilege to be there in person, soaking it all in.
