In this edition, we recap the Toronto Tempo’s Cross-Canada Series stop in Vancouver, BC, bringing the game out West. We also explore the Northern Super League‘s announcement to host the finals in Ottawa, ON this year, and how Canadian history will be made this September as women’s flag football makes its way to Toronto, ON during an exciting time for women’s flag football in Canada.

TORONTO TEMPO’S CROSS-CANADA SERIES TOUCHES DOWN IN VANCOUVER

 

The Toronto Tempo took their inaugural WNBA season west last weekend, bringing the Cross-Canada Series to Vancouver for two games at Rogers Arena, and giving fans in British Columbia their first chance to see Canada’s WNBA team in action.

The weekend got off to a big start on Friday, August 21, when the Tempo took on the Portland Fire in front of 12,414 fans. Toronto came away with an 82-79 victory, snapping a 12-game losing streak and earning their first win since July 12.

The Tempo returned to Rogers Arena on Sunday to take on the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces won with an 88-78 victory in front of an even bigger crowd of 15,877 fans.

The Tempo also hosted Tempo Live, a free fan festival at Rogers Arena on Saturday, giving fans an opportunity to connect with the team off the court. The event featured interactive basketball activities, community programming, players, and the team’s newest mascots, Dez and Dot, alongside pennant-making, face painting and more. A girls skills and drills clinic was also hosted in partnership with Girls Who Leap on the court during the fan festival.

Vancouver fans also got a first look at new Tempo merchandise created in collaboration with Canadian brand Peau de Loup, including pieces designed specifically for the Vancouver stop. The collection was available exclusively at Rogers Arena during the weekend, with the brand teasing an online release to follow soon. Stay tuned here for the online release.

The mascots were an exciting part of the festival after making their introductions and unveilings during the Tempo’s August 18 game against the Indiana Fever at Scotiabank Arena, in front of a crowd of 19,300 fans.

Dez the Snapping Turtle and Dot the Arctic Hare are a Canadian twist on the classic tortoise-and-hare duo, with Dez representing a more measured, slower energy while Dot brings the speed and hype. As Tempo Chief Marketing Officer Whitney Bell explained, the concept plays on the contrast between “slow against fast” and the different ways the two mascots bring energy to the team.

The team noted that because of competitive and operational considerations mean it won’t necessarily be possible to visit a new Canadian market every year, Tempo president Teresa Resch says the team plans to continue exploring opportunities to bring games to different cities across the country.

THE NORTHERN SUPER LEAGUE FINAL IS HEADING TO OTTAWA

 

The Northern Super League is bringing its championship match to Ottawa, ON this fall.

The league announced that the 2026 NSL Final will take place at TD Place on Saturday, November 14, where the league’s top two clubs will face off in a winner-take-all battle for the Diana B. Matheson Cup.

Tickets are officially on sale, and can be purchased here.

The playoffs will unfold over the two weeks leading up to the championship match.

After a successful 2025 NSL inaugural finals in Toronto, ON last year, in front of a crowd of 12,429 fans where AFC Toronto faced off against Vancouver Rise FC, the Rise became the first Diana B. Matheson Cup winners. We’re excited to see how this years finals shapes up in Ottawa!

WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL FLAG FOOTBALL IS COMING TO TORONTO

 

Toronto is set to make Canadian history with women’s flag football next month.

The World Flag Series has announced that its second professional event, WFS2, will take place at York Lions Stadium on Saturday, September 19. It will mark the series’ first event outside the United States, and the first professional flag football event of its kind in Canada.

Three professional teams will take the field:

H.E.R. (Hustle Every Rep)
They are the reigning World Flag Series champions, and include a team full of international talent and top Canadian athletes.

Glitter Bombs
They are a veteran group who bring speed, skill, and firepower to the field.

Midnight Ballers
They are a new team making their World Flag Series debut and looking to make an immediate statement.

Tickets for WFS2 can be purchased here.

This flag football series comes at an exciting time when flag football is set to make its Olympic debut at LA28, and just recently, Canada’s women’s flag football team was the first nation to win a ticket to the LA28 Olympic games!

 

 

The stories of the month show girls in sport and physical activity that: