‘I’m really glad Toronto has a team for women,’ Torontonians proud of Toronto Tempo regardless of nail-biting 3-point loss

Toronto Tempo might have lost their first game, but that didn’t stop the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) fans from coming out in droves. 

Toronto Tempo lost to the Washington Mystics 68-65 in the team’s first-ever regular season game at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Although it wasn’t the result Torontonians hoped for, they’re proud of the professional women athletes.

Toronto resident Maliya is a young girl who’s only ever seen a basketball match on TV, and she’s excited that her first in-person match is played by Toronto’s women’s team.

“It’s really exciting, and I’m really glad Toronto has a team for women,” she told Now Toronto before tip-off.

Looking forward to the game, her dad bought Maliya and her mom some Toronto Tempo merch. 

“So my dad got me and my mom matching tempo sweaters for a present, and we’re both really excited for this, and we’re hoping to buy hats at the game too,” she said. 

Another young girl, Etta, finds it inspiring to see Toronto have a professional basketball team. 

“I am excited because this is the first game. It’s the grand opening. It’s once in a lifetime,” she said. 

Etta is also a basketball player for the last three years and aspires to play for Toronto Tempo when she grows up. 

Another Toronto resident, Kendra, grew up playing basketball alongside her sister and decided to gift her mom with a Toronto Tempo ticket for Mother’s Day. 

She finds the event inspiring and is glad it’s right here in the city. 

“I coach young girls basketball, so it’s really exciting that they have something to look up to now as well,” Kendra told Now Toronto.