The Toronto Tempo are preparing for their inaugural WNBA season in 2026 with an ambitious goal: to become 'Canada's team' and unify the country through women's basketball. The expansion franchise, led by four-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello, plans to play regular-season games across Canada, including in Vancouver and Montreal.

Team president Teresa Resch, who previously helped the Raptors expand their Canadian footprint through preseason games in multiple provinces, sees the Tempo as a catalyst for women's basketball development nationwide. The franchise's vision draws inspiration from the Raptors' journey to becoming Canada's team, culminating in their 2019 NBA championship. That victory sparked nationwide celebrations, with watch parties held in over 50 Canadian cities.

Owner Larry Tanenbaum, former chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, emphasized this national identity from the start. Unlike the Raptors' expansion era when they shared the Canadian market with the Vancouver Grizzlies, the Tempo have the unique opportunity to represent all of Canada from their debut. The franchise's strategy mirrors the 'Vince Carter effect' that helped transform Canadian men's basketball, with the hope that the Tempo will similarly inspire a new generation of female players across the country.