Reports: WNBA franchise awarded to Toronto's Kilmer Group for 2026 season

TORONTO — Several media reports say the WNBA is officially coming to Toronto.

The CBC was the first to report that the women's professional basketball league has awarded a franchise to the Kilmer Group.

The reported deal would have Toronto's WNBA team start playing in May 2026.

Larry Tanenbaum is the chairman and CEO of Kilmer Group and the chairman of the board for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the NBA's Raptors and NHL's Maple Leafs.

He also owns 25 per cent of MLSE through Kilmer's holdings.

A spokeswoman for Kilmer Group told The Canadian Press that they have no updates at this time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2024.

The Canadian Press