History Tonight: WNBA's First Regular-Season Game in Canada

Did someone share this email with you? Get daily women’s basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!

What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. WNBA’s First Regular-Season Game in Canada 🇨🇦

History will be made tonight when the Atlanta Dream face the Seattle Storm at Rogers Arena in Vancouver—the first regular-season WNBA game ever played in Canada. (The Albany Herald)

📺 Watch: Tonight at 10 PM ET on ION and League Pass

WHY IT MATTERS: This is only the league’s fifth international game but the first during the regular season (the rest have been preseason exhibitions). It’s also a lead-up to next season’s debut of the Toronto Tempo.

Could it also possibly be a market test for a second Canadian franchise down the road? The WNBA saw big buzz from 2023’s preseason matchup in Toronto, which helped pave the way for the Tempo announcement.

On the court: Seattle is desperate to snap a 6-game skid to stay in the playoff picture, while Atlanta’s fresh off a 6-game win streak, including an 85–75 win over the Storm on Wednesday.

2. Statue of Sue Bird to be Unveiled Sunday 🐦

This Sunday, the Seattle Storm will unveil a bronze statue of Sue Bird outside Climate Pledge Arena as part of an all-day “Forever Sue” celebration, including a free fan fest before the Storm’s game against the Mercury. (Sports Illustrated)

📺 Watch Storm vs Mercury: Sunday, Aug. 17 at 6 PM ET on League Pass

WHY IT MATTERS: Bird spent her entire 21-year WNBA career with the Storm, racking up four championships, 13 All-Star nods, and the league’s all-time assists record. And now, she’ll be the first former player to be honored with a statue by a WNBA franchise.

3. Valkyries Sell Out Every Home Game 🏟️

The Golden State Valkyries have sold out every one of their 15 home games with 18,064 fans at San Francisco’s Chase Center in the franchise’s inaugural season. According to Across the Timeline, they rank first in average home attendance, and third in attendance overall.

👉 See full league attendance by team

WHY IT MATTERS: Expansion teams across all sports usually face a long runway to build support. Not the Valkyries. From record season-ticket deposits to consistent sellouts, they’ve become a model for future franchises like Toronto, Portland, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. The Bay Area’s long-standing women’s sports fan base has fueled a debut season that teases what the WNBA’s next era may look like.