As she grew up in Chatham, Ontario, Bridget Carleton never envisioned herself playing professional basketball in her home country.
This season, she’s finally getting that opportunity.
“It feels surreal,” remarked the Portland Fire forward prior to her team facing off against the Toronto Tempo in Vancouver on Friday. “As a kid in Canada, I would never have thought this would be possible.”
Carleton was fortunate—her mother was familiar with the Detroit Shock, and they would travel across the border to attend games. However, the WNBA was mostly out of reach.
“We didn’t have it on television,” she stated. “Now that I’m 29 and playing in a WNBA game in Canada, it’s just unbelievable. It’s fantastic that kids now have role models in Canada; the evolution of the game in America and now in Canada is really impressive.”
A crowd of 12,414 witnessed the Tempo (11-25) rally from a 13-point deficit to triumph over the Fire 82-79 on Friday, marking the end of Toronto’s 12-game losing streak.
Isabelle Harrison, the centre, mentioned that the crowd provided the Tempo with a significant lift.
“It felt great. I really sensed that we had the momentum on our side because all the fans showed up,” she said. “Canada really came out for us today.”
Portland (15-21) started strong, aided by the nine points Carleton scored within the first six minutes of the game.
Toronto made a comeback, tying the game at 44-44 as they approached halftime.
Midway through the third quarter, the fans erupted when Harrison powered through traffic for a layup, giving Toronto a 58-53 lead.
“I’ve been told that people here appreciate hard-working basketball players. They really love the game,” she said. “My priority is my team and playing hard for them, but I also want to ensure the crowd has something to cheer about. They really showed up for us today.”
The atmosphere inside Rogers Arena was so energetic at times that Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello struggled to communicate with her players.
“We felt the support,” she said. “During our critical moments, it was difficult for me to speak during some timeouts. I’m just thrilled the fans got to witness our performance. We represent Canada, and they’re standing behind us.”
Friday’s match was part of the Tempo’s Cross Canada tour, which included two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre in July.
The first game, which ended in a 108-95 loss to the Dallas Wings, attracted a record-setting crowd of 20,996 for a WNBA regular-season event.
Brondello emphasized that traveling to various regions of the country is essential to the Tempo’s mission.
“We aim to cultivate more fans and showcase what the Tempo represents, making these players well-known,” she said. “Our hope is to attract more new supporters, not just for the Tempo, but for the WNBA as well.”
Having spent 27 of the WNBA’s 30 seasons as either a player or coach, Brondello acknowledges that establishing an expansion team in Canada has its hurdles, but witnessing the growth of women’s basketball has been rewarding.
“Our league has expanded tremendously,” she noted.
“We had early expansions that didn’t quite fit the moment. This is the right moment. The sponsorships and the attention we’re receiving are incredible, enhancing visibility. Every time we visit a new city, it’s an opportunity, isn’t it? We are an international game, and Canada is enhancing this sport even further.”
The Tempo will remain in Vancouver throughout the weekend, hosting a fan festival on Saturday before facing the Las Vegas Aces at Rogers Arena on Sunday.
The journey illustrates the significant growth of the league in recent years, according to Toronto guard Brittney Sykes.
“Experiencing the level of support we’re receiving, the commitment we’re getting, and the expansion we’re seeing—I would never have imagined we would have a team in Canada, and now we do,” she expressed.
“I want us to continue delivering an outstanding product for young girls and every child to inspire them to believe they can reach the next level.”
Carleton believes that watching WNBA games in Canada will be monumental for future generations of basketball players throughout the nation.
“Seeing female professional athletes competing so close to home opens up limitless possibilities. You no longer need to have small dreams,” said the two-time Olympian.
“What you can visualize, you can achieve. I would have cherished that as a child. Now, I feel privileged to be that inspiration for someone else. Having professional women’s sports in Canada is a dream fulfilled.”