Calling all basketball fans!
Word on the street is a Toronto man is flirting with the idea of getting Toronto into the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and people are excited.
According to reports, billionaire sports lover Larry Tanenbaum is pursuing a WNBA expansion team for Toronto, according to CBC Sports.
READ MORE: The first-ever WNBA Canada game happened last night and here’s how Toronto celebrated
Tanenbaum, is described as a minority owner and chairman of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) which is home to the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto Football Club (TFC) and more.
Apparently, the mogul will soon be in talks with WNBA leadership to discuss the potential bid and fans could get an answer by May.
A WNBA spokesperson told the news outlet that it will “continue to engage in productive conversations with interested ownership groups in a number of markets but have no news to report at this time.”
A spokesperson for the Kilmer Group, a business development and investment platform where Tanenbaum is both the chairman and CEO, also provided a statement.
“Larry Tanenbaum has spent his career building and growing iconic sports franchises. He knows that Toronto has some of the greatest sports fans in the world and is always looking for opportunities to champion professional sports and deliver unrivalled fan experiences in the city he loves,” they shared.
This news comes after the league played its first Canada game in Toronto last May.
Community organizers in the GTA are on board if the team is created.
“Expanding the WNBA to Toronto would not only be an amazing opportunity for all Canadian athletes but also young Muslim-Canadians like myself. The expansion would create more representation, and inclusivity for our city,” Ala’a Adib, a sports content creator and community advocate, told Now Toronto on Tuesday.
And to say fans are hyped about the news is an understatement.
“Finally!,” one X user said.
“More sports teams for Toronto? Love it,” someone else commented.
“Yes, yes and yes!,” another user chimed in.
