WNBA Expansion Team Toronto Tempo Set to Build $100M State-of-the-Art Facility

You can usually tell where a sport is headed by the kind of money being put into it. In the case of the WNBA, that direction feels clearer than ever, especially with what the incoming Toronto Tempo are planning.

The team, which is set to enter the league in 2026, is already thinking well beyond its first season. Instead of waiting to settle in, they’re pushing ahead with plans for a training facility that’s expected to cost around $100 million. For a franchise that hasn’t even played a game yet, that kind of move says a lot.

What stands out just as much as the number is how the project is being handled. The facility is expected to be privately funded, which shows a growing level of belief in the commercial side of women’s basketball. Not long ago, investments of this scale in the women’s game would have raised eyebrows. Now, they’re starting to feel like part of a bigger trend.

A high-performance hub built for the future of women’s basketball

The proposed site is at Exhibition Place in Toronto, close to Coca-Cola Coliseum, where the team will play its home games. The plan isn’t just to build a place to train, but something that covers everything a professional athlete needs on a daily basis.

There are expected to be multiple full-size courts, along with spaces for strength work and conditioning. Recovery seems to be a big focus too, with areas designed for treatment, rehab, and things like hydrotherapy. On top of that, there will likely be film rooms, locker rooms, and common areas where players can spend time between sessions.

Another detail that stands out is the community angle. Parts of the facility are expected to be opened up for local use, which helps connect the team with the city in a more direct way. It’s not just about the roster, but about building something that feels part of the wider basketball scene.

The timeline points to construction starting after the team’s first season, with a target completion around 2028. That gives the project a long-term feel rather than something rushed just to make headlines.

Toronto’s entry into the league already matters because it’s the first WNBA team based outside the United States. Adding a project like this on top of that only strengthens the message. The league isn’t just expanding, it’s evolving, and teams are starting to operate with a different level of ambition.

For the Tempo, the games will come later. Right now, it’s the groundwork that’s doing the talking.