It’s rare for sports fans to gain an inside look at the development of a new team coming to their city. Through Destination Toronto, there was an opportunity to witness the countdown to the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season launch.
Ironically, the inventor of basketball, James Naismith, was born in Canada. The game has already found a home here, thanks to the path paved by the Toronto Raptors. With players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh helping to build their foundation, the Raptors reached their full potential with Kawhi Leonard.
During one of the most exciting playoff runs in recent memory, the 2019 NBA Playoffs revealed the passion of Toronto’s fanbase to the world. The crowd shots outside Scotiabank Arena are still hard to forget. It was a sea of crimson that would give any opposing team reason to pause. This is the kind of culture awaiting the Toronto Tempo in the 2026 campaign.
Toronto boasts one of the most diverse communities in North America
The city is as progressive as it is welcoming. Time spent in Toronto makes it clear just how deeply rooted the love of basketball is there. Whether through a tour of Scotiabank Arena or a visit to the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto proves itself to be both knowledgeable and invested in the game.
The community also understands the importance of giving back. The team at Development Counsellors International, along with the media group involved in the trip, took part in painting planters with The Give And Grow. Created by Olivia Ho, The Give and Grow supports and uplifts young girls in the Toronto community through basketball clinics, planter painting activities on weekends and intentional conversations. The initiative is designed to help instill confidence in the next generation of young women.
At a welcome dinner, attendees had the chance to meet Nakissa Koomalsingh, the founder of Hoop Queens.
Hoop Queens is Canada’s first professional basketball league for women. Koomalsingh shared that she “wanted to be able to give women more opportunity to play professional basketball after college.” While the WNBA continues to grow, the league still doesn’t have enough slots to accommodate all of the world’s women players. Koomalsingh hopes Hoop Queens can serve as a farm system for “The W.”
The people of Toronto are intentional
They strive to do the right thing, and many view the arrival of the Toronto Tempo as another opportunity to be a positive force in the world. It’s safe to say the WNBA couldn’t have picked a better city. The Toronto Tempo already have a “W” in the win column—well before the players even step onto the court.