The idea of an all-Canadian women’s league is not new. That of acquiring a WNBA team either. But they gained weight last week as renowned rapper Drake posted a fleeting message on his Instagram account calling for the WNBA to set up shop in Toronto.
Drake is not only a regular at Raptors games, he is also an ambassador for the team and maintains relationships with several influential people in the world of basketball.
basketball féminin. Évidemment, il est un grand partisan des Raptors. Il est passionné de basketball et voué au basketball canadien alors je dis qu'il a raison d'appuyer la WNBA et de vouloir l'amener au Canada","text":"C'est enthousiasmant qu'une personne de cette stature s'intéresse au basketball féminin. Évidemment, il est un grand partisan des Raptors. Il est passionné de basketball et voué au basketball canadien alors je dis qu'il a raison d'appuyer la WNBA et de vouloir l'amener au Canada"}}">It’s exciting that a person of this stature is interested in women’s basketball. Obviously, he’s a big supporter of the Raptors. He is passionate about basketball and dedicated to Canadian basketball so I say he is right to support the WNBA and want to bring it to Canada
, this Bridget Carleton.
The 24-year-old Ontarian has just wrapped up her third season in the WNBA. She took part in 32 games, a personal high. Nonetheless, once her season ended in the United States, she packed her bags for Israel to complete her year.
Professional players like her have no choice but to go into exile during the WNBA offseason to keep the sidelines and receive a salary, she explains, for which an all-Canadian league would be so beneficial for players from here than those looking for a high-level team for a few months.
basketball comme Drake. Il y a l'espace et le marché [pour que ça arrive]. Il suffit d'élaborer un plan et de trouver les bonnes personnes pour que ça réussisse.","text":"Je pense que nous sommes sur une lancée au Canada. Les gens s'intéressent de plus en plus au basketball comme Drake. Il y a l'espace et le marché [pour que ça arrive]. Il suffit d'élaborer un plan et de trouver les bonnes personnes pour que ça réussisse."}}">I think we are on a roll in Canada. People are more and more interested in basketball like Drake. There is the space and the market [pour que ça arrive]. You just need to develop a plan and find the right people for it to be successful.
I am very optimistic. I hope this will happen before I hang my shoes.
Her teammate Natalie Achonwa specifies that basketball ne fait que grandir au Canada","text":"le talent est là et l'amour pour le basketball ne fait que grandir au Canada"}}">the talent is there and the love for basketball is only growing in Canada
. It’s just a matter of time. Whether it’s a team or a league, this is the next step. We just need someone to lead this project!
At Basketball Canada, optimism is also there. High Performance Director Denise Dignard clarifies that talks have been initiated by the new president of the federation, Mike Bartlett, with MLSE, the group that owns the Raptors, and the CEBL, the Canadian men’s basketball league created in 2017. .
Basketball Canada is pursuing two options in parallel, she said.
basketball","text":"On a la vision, oui, d'avoir une équipe WNBA qui inspire, qui serait à la télévision, mais il y a aussi l'importance d'être dans les communautés, de ce qu'on pourrait faire à travers le Canada pour vraiment capturer l'énergie et le positif qui s'accompagne de notre sport, le basketball"}}">We have the vision, yes, to have a WNBA team that inspires, that would be on television, but there is also the importance of being in the communities, of what we could do across Canada to really capture the energy and the positive that comes with our sport, basketball
, she indicates at the microphone of Radio-Canada.
Ms. Dignard recalls that Canada is ranked fourth in the world rankings of FIBA, the international basketball federation, despite being eliminated from the group stage at the Tokyo Olympics. The country has established itself as a powerhouse, but it is the only one in the top 6 in the world that does not have a professional women’s league. The United States (1st), Spain (2nd), Australia (3rd), France (5th) and Belgium (6th) have some.
A training camp to reconnect
Members of the Canadian basketball team are in Toronto by Saturday to train under the supervision of the national program coaches. Basketball Canada has managed to bring together 15 athletes of different levels of experience to launch its new Olympic cycle in preparation for the Paris 2024 Games.
This training camp should allow players to have fun and spend time with each other, says Ms. Dignard, because they did not have this leisure before the Tokyo Games due to the COVID pandemic -19.
At the same time, the federation continues to conduct its research for a new head coach. The contract of Lisa Thomaidis, who has been at the helm of the senior team for nine years, has not been renewed.
What we are looking for is someone who will be able to get a medal in Paris (in 2024), and then in Los Angeles (in 2028)
, indicates Denise Dignard.
A possible Olympic medal could also add weight to the project of a professional league in Canada.
I think that would help a lot because there is a lot of attention that is given when people win Olympic medals so we hope so, but we also hope that in the next three years, we can really have more traction. .
