Vancouver crowd draws rave reviews from visiting WNBA stars
The Toronto Tempo called Vancouver home over the weekend, playing a pair of WNBA games at Rogers Arena.
On Friday, a crowd of 12,414 saw the Tempo end a 12-game losing streak against their expansion cousins, the Portland Fire. A bigger crowd of 15,877 saw Toronto take on A’ja Wilson and the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
A’ja Wilson taking on Isabelle Harrison during Sunday’s game. (Caitlyn MacDonald/Daily Hive)
Speaking with reporters post-game on Sunday, marquee players from both teams were very complimentary of Vancouver.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s a clean city. You can walk around. I was always amazed at how many people are outside, walking around, having picnics,” Wilson said in response to a question from Daily Hive’s Har Johal.
The 6-foot-4 superstar loved the food scene, also.
“We had some really good gelato around the corner from our hotel. The butterscotch caramel gelato was 10 out of 10. I haven’t missed a meal since I’ve been here. It was really good. The food was delicious. Love being by the water… Vancouver’s been really nice for me, to see people wearing my shoe, they make signs, the support across the border, it’s a surreal feeling for me.”
That’s what it’s all about. (Caitlyn MacDonald/Daily Hive)
Asked if Vancouver could support a WNBA team of its own, Wilson said: “They proved it.”
“Educated,” was how Aces head coach Becky Hammon described the crowd.
The crowd was locked in. (Caitlyn MacDonald/Daily Hive)
“It wasn’t a like a dead crowd,” Wilson said. “You know, sometimes you get crowds and they don’t follow the rules. [But] they were listening. They were well bought in. They were locked in.
“That’s always great for our game when we have fans that are like that.”
Tempo players celebrated a big win on Friday. (Caitlyn MacDonald/Daily Hive)
Until Vancouver gets its own team, the Tempo will be happy to present themselves as Canada’s team. Certainly, visits like this one help to solidify a fan base on the other side of the country.
“It’s been great,” said Kia Nurse, the longtime Canadian national team star who joined the Tempo this offseason. “There’s just so much excitement around women’s sports in Vancouver right now, with the PWHL being here and also us being able to come and play these home games throughout the season. It’s exciting to see that.”
Among the fans in attendance was her cousin, PWHL star Sarah Nurse. She was just one of many athletes spotted during the two games.
Big support from Vancouver Rise FC players. (Caitlyn MacDonald/Daily Hive)
Vancouver Canucks co-president Daniel Sedin, as well as members of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Rise, Vancouver Goldeneyes, Vancouver Bandits, Vancouver Warriors, and the Canadian women’s national rugby team were present, as was NBA star Bam Adebayo.
“They were loud, they were excited. They were right into it,” Nurse added. “I’m really happy that when we get to talk to people around here, that they’re having a really positive experiences at the Toronto Tempo games and the atmosphere and energy that they can bring… Really proud of the Canadians out here, doing their thing.”