WNBA ballers hitting the court at Rogers Place Saturday
Pro ballers are preparing to dish it up at Rogers Place.
Canada's second-ever pre-season WNBA game will be played in Edmonton Saturday with the Los Angeles Sparks taking on the Seattle Storm.
Storm head coach Noelle Quinn is also the lead assistant coach for the Canada Women's National Team, which is ranked fifth in the world by FIBA.
"People can expect a great game," said Tammy Sutton-Brown, former WNBA All-Star. "The girls are going to play hard … I think it's going to be a really competitive game and it's going to be a fun atmosphere."
Last year a pre-season game in Toronto set WNBA records for broadcast viewership, attendance and merchandise sales in Canada.
The game comes at the end of what the WNBA says is its most-watched regular season in 21 years. This year, a record-number of Candians also tuned into the 2024 WNBA Draft, shattering the previous record by 111 per cent.
Sutton-Brown was the first Canadian selected as a WNBA All-Star. She said games like this are important in showcasing the talent and opportunities in the league.
"In order to be it, you have to see it. So for the young boys, the young girls, I think this is a great opportunity," she said. "I encourage dads to bring their daughters out. And then also your sons as well, because they're going to be advocates too when it comes to women and sports."
According to Canadian Women and Sport, Canada has put in a bid for a WNBA expansion team.
Saturday's game will be the fourth WNBA game played outside the U.S. In the morning, dozens of local youth will take part in an all-women-led basketball skills clinic.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and start at $26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Passenger killed, 30 injured as Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence
One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from London hit severe turbulence en route on Tuesday, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said.
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
BREAKING Canada's inflation cools to 3-year low of 2.7%, in boost for rate cut bets
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Independent stores and grocery alternatives see sales boost amid Loblaw boycott
As the month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores wears on, small independent food retailers and alternative grocery options say they're seeing a boost in traffic and sales.
London judge rejects Prince Harry's bid to add allegations against Rupert Murdoch in tabloid lawsuit
Prince Harry can't expand his privacy lawsuit against The Sun tabloid publisher to include allegations that Rupert Murdoch and some other executives were part of an effort to conceal and destroy evidence of unlawful information gathering, a London judge ruled Tuesday.
Quebec woman suffers critical injuries after crash with moose in Algonquin Park
A Quebec woman is in critical condition and another man was injured after a vehicle collided with a moose in Algonquin Provincial Park early Sunday morning.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'