Bridget Carleton, who grew up in Chatham, Ontario, never envisioned herself playing professional basketball in Canada.
This season, that dream is becoming a reality.
“It’s surreal,” the forward for the Portland Fire remarked before her team faced off against the Toronto Tempo in Vancouver on Friday. “As a child in Canada, I never thought this would happen.”
Carleton had a fortunate upbringing; her mother was aware of the Detroit Shock, and they often crossed the border to watch games. However, the WNBA seemed mostly out of reach.
“We didn’t have it on television,” she explained. “Now at 29, playing a WNBA game in Canada feels unbelievable. It’s amazing that children have this to aspire to in Canada. The growth of the sport in both America and now Canada is incredible.”
On Friday, a reported audience of 12,414 witnessed the Tempo (11-25) come back from a 13-point deficit to triumph over the Fire 82-79, snapping their 12-game losing streak.
Isabelle Harrison, the centre, noted that the crowd provided a vital lift for the Tempo.
“It felt fantastic. I felt we had the momentum on our side with all the fans present,” she stated. “Canada really came out for us today.”
Portland (15-21) started strong, aided by Carleton’s nine points in the game’s opening six minutes.
The Tempo fought back, tying the game at 44-44 as they headed into halftime.
The crowd erupted midway through the third quarter when Harrison powered through defenders to score a layup, giving Toronto a 58-53 advantage.
“Since I arrived, I’ve been told that they respect hard-working basketball players here, and they truly love the game,” she remarked. “My main focus is my team, playing hard for them, while also ensuring the crowd has something to cheer for. They really showed up for us today.”
At times during Friday’s game, the noise in Rogers Arena became so overwhelming that Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello struggled to communicate with her players.
“We definitely felt the support,” she said. “During significant plays, it was difficult for me to speak during timeouts. I’m just glad the fans got to enjoy our performance. We are Canada’s team, and they are behind us.”
Friday’s matchup was part of the Tempo’s Cross Canada series, which also included two games at the Bell Centre in Montreal in July.
The initial game, which ended in a 108-95 loss to the Dallas Wings, saw a record attendance of 20,996 for a WNBA regular-season event.
Brondello emphasized that visiting various regions of the country is integral to the Tempo’s mission.
“We’re aiming to cultivate more fans and showcase what the Tempo represents, making these players household names,” she said. “Our hope is to attract new supporters, not just for the Tempo but for the WNBA overall.”
Having been involved with the WNBA for 27 of its 30 seasons, either as a player or coach, Brondello acknowledged the unique challenges of establishing an expansion team in Canada.
“The growth of our league has been remarkable,” she stated.
“In the past, we had expansions at the wrong times. Now feels right. The sponsorship opportunities and visibility we have are incredible. Every time we can visit a new city, it’s an exciting prospect. We are a global sport, and Canada is helping to elevate this game to new heights.”
The Tempo will remain in Vancouver over the weekend, hosting a fan festival on Saturday before facing the Las Vegas Aces at Rogers Arena on Sunday.
Toronto guard Brittney Sykes remarked that this journey illustrates the league’s significant progress in recent years.
“Experiencing the level of enthusiasm we’re receiving, the engagement from fans, and the expansion we’ve achieved — I never anticipated having a team in Canada, yet here we are,” she noted.
“My goal is to continue delivering an outstanding experience for young girls and every child so they can believe they can reach the next level.”
Carleton expressed that observing WNBA games in Canada will greatly benefit future generations of basketball players nationwide.
“Witnessing professional female athletes competing so close to home opens up limitless possibilities. You can dream big,” said the two-time Olympian.
“The most important takeaway is that what you see, you can achieve. I would have cherished that as a child, and now I’m privileged to serve as that figure for someone else. The existence of professional women’s sports in Canada is a dream realized.”