The WNBA hosted an all-time record regular-season record crowd of 20,996 at Bell Centre on Friday, July 10. The Dallas Wings beat the expansion Toronto Tempo, 108-95, behind 34 points from Paige Bueckers.
The previous regular-season mark of 20,711 was set by Washington against Indiana on Sept. 19, 2024. Detroit has the two biggest crowds ever – both 22,076 – during the 2003 and 2007 WNBA Finals.
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“Being the only team in Canada, it’s a responsibility for us and how cool is that,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said. “We get to be seen all over Canada. We want to make sure we can come out tonight and celebrate the WNBA and celebrate the Tempo with our new fans.”
Toronto will also host the New York Liberty in Montreal on Sunday. The Tempo plan to play two games later this season in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“I said to the team today what a unique opportunity this is. We’re creating firsts. We say we’re Canada’s team so we’re taking the show on the road,” Brondello said. “I always say, a fan has to just come and watch one game and they’ll fall in love.”
Marina Mabrey had 34 points for Toronto (9-13) and Laura Juskaite added 25 points.
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“It’s really special for Canada and for the Toronto Tempo franchise,” Dallas coach Jose Fernandez said. “It just shows the trajectory of where the WNBA is and what the franchise in Toronto is doing for basketball fans in Canada.”
The Bell Centre hosted the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s largest crowd as well, drawing 21,105 for a game between Montreal and Toronto on April 20, 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toronto Tempo draw record WNBA regular-season crowd in Montreal
