The Toronto Tempo, the first professional women's basketball team in Canada in the WNBA, has already garnered attention due to the backing of basketball legends and major investors. Ex-Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams share their excitement and optimism for the franchise's future.
Nick Nurse: “Canadians Love Sports”
Nick Nurse expressed his confidence in the city's ability to rally around a new team when he discussed the arrival of the Toronto Tempo.
“It’s great. I mean, I think that the Canadians love sports. I think they’ll really support the team,” said Nurse. “Theresa Resch, a good friend of mine who’s running it... it’s gonna be awesome.”
Theresa Resch, who previously worked as a top executive at the Toronto Raptors, now leads the charge with a winning record and a thorough grasp of Toronto's sports scene. Her leadership has given the Tempo immediate credibility and excitement to local fans and insiders.
Serena Williams: Changing The Game From The Top
Serena Williams, a world-renowned tennis player and advocate for women in sports, is not only an investor in the team but also deeply committed to its management and mission.
“I’ve always been involved as an athlete, or in some different space,” Serena shared. “On the manager side, it’s totally, totally different—down to picking out, not necessarily our team, but what does upper management look like? Being a part of those conversations and making sure that we have the right people that are bringing the right winning mentality to the game, and to our team in particular. It is so different and it’s so rewarding and so exciting.”
Williams' investment is not only financial but also personal. Her commitment to advancing women's sports and establishing lasting organizations dates back years.
In the sports investment world, she and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, have become one of the most influential power couples.
Authenticity And Purpose In Investment
Serena stressed the importance of authenticity and impact when asked how she and Ohanian choose where to invest.
“For me, investments always have to be very authentic. You don’t want to do something just because. I love the WNBA, and that was something that I really enjoyed. So I try to invest in things that I really like,” she said.
“We obviously look at the business—that clearly makes a huge difference—but I like to authentically do things. That’s kind of how we think about it.”
She acknowledged Ohanian's early support for women's sports, specifically as an initial investor of Angel City FC in the NWSL.
“Honestly, I feel like he started a lot of this with what he did with Angel City and putting in that first big check for those first three founders—that was really huge.”
The Rise Of The Toronto Tempo
The Toronto Tempo is ready to change Canada's professional women's basketball world with Resch at the helm, high-profile endorsements, and investors like Serena Williams aboard. Their arrival enhances the growth of women's sports and solidifies Toronto's position as a hub for sporting excellence globally. In the words of Nick Nurse, “It’s gonna be awesome.”
