A 12-foot tall sculpture is touring around Toronto in celebration of the first-ever WNBA preseason game in Canada tomorrow.
NBA Canada made the larger-than-life sculpture of The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) logo for Torontonians to sign.
The sculpture first stopped at Stackt Market on Wednesday, then the CN Tower base on Thursday. The sculpture remains at the CN Tower Friday until 7 p.m. and then will move to its last stop at Scotiabank Arena (inside Gate 6) from 3 p.m. until the end of the game.
Along with signing the sculpture, people can enter for a chance to win tickets to the sold out game.
READ MORE: First-ever WNBA Canada game coming to Toronto
The history-making game, presented by Tangerine, is on Saturday between the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx at Scotiabank Arena.
The game will be only the third WNBA preseason game to be played outside of the U.S. In 2004, the Detroit Shock and San Antonio Silver Stars met in Monterrey, Mexico and in 2011 the Atlanta Dream played the Standard Life Great Britain Women’s basketball team in Manchester, England.
There are only two Canadians playing in Minnesota, Bridget Carleton and Natalie Achonwa.
Alannah Della Vedova, director, Content Activations and Brand at online sports betting site FanDuel, says the game is a significant accomplishment in support of equity for women in sports.
“I am personally very excited but it’s just a huge cultural moment for Canada and for Canadian women and Canadian women in sports. I think there’s so much amazing talent here and I’m happy that Toronto is being put within this spotlight and on the map,” she told Now Toronto.
She added that the game could open doors for more opportunities to showcase women in sports in Toronto and across the country.
“I mean, now has never been a better time for women’s sports. I know there are still a lot of hurdles and a lot of opportunities to do better. But viewership is increasing, investors are interested, sponsors are interested. So I’m just hoping that when people see how alive this city comes it really accelerates that growth,” she said.
Tip off is at 4 p.m. EST.
