Full steam ahead for Toronto Tempo as WNBA team readies for inaugural season
She recently hired the team's first general manager, Monica Wright Rogers, a move which will take some of the spotlight off of Resch, who has pretty much been the face of the franchise since MLSE chair Larry Tannenbaum was first awarded the franchise in May of 2024.
'When I got this job, I didn't realize I'd be getting to talk to so many people like yourself, journalists telling the story of the team, because I'd worked for the Raptors for 10 seasons, and it was always the players and the coach and even our GM who was telling the story about the Raptors,' Resch told Global News' Eric Sorensen.
But team meetings remain pretty small for the Tempo as they still need to hire a coach and fill out the roster.
Story continues below advertisement
'We'll have a coach probably at the end of the W' season in the fall, in October, November,' Resch offered.
'And then we'll have players starting in the wintertime. So we'll an expansion draft likely in December, January. We'll have free agency in January, and we'll (have) a college draft in April. So then those people will really be truly telling the Tempo story.'
While the roster remains unfilled, a few famous female faces with wildly different backgrounds have bought into the team, including Serena Williams, Lilly Singh and Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'It's incredible to have that level of female leaders connected to our team,' Resch said.
'They're invested in this. They have invested their own dollars into this and believe in it.'
Story continues below advertisement
Williams immediately chipped in with the hiring of the team's general manager, and the former tennis star, who was also known for her style, has offered to assist in other areas.
23:49
WNBA in Canada: Teresa Resch hopes Toronto Tempo will 'inspire an entire new generation'
'Serena is passionate about design, so she's going to help us with uniforms and maybe a collection,' Resch explained. 'She was involved in interviewing Monica Rogers, our GM.'
YouTube star Singh also brings a different offering to the table.
'Lily has been incredible,' the team president said of the Canadian media star. 'She has the title of 'Chief Hype Officer' and boy, oh boy, does she embody that. And I cannot wait for her to really tell our story in a way that only she can'
And while Singh Cassidy may not be quite as famous as the others, the southern Ontario native has been a Silicon Valley star for years, having worked with Google and StubHub before becoming CEO of Xero.
Story continues below advertisement
Resch said that she appreciates the opportunity to pick the tech mogul's brain at times.
'Just her insights being able to mine her and she's available to provide insights for us as we're building this organization,' she said. 'She's done it before so it's incredible to have that type of talent and intellect helping us.'
–with files from Global News' Eric Sorensen
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian women set to square off with U.S. in AmeriCup semifinals
SANTIAGO – Canada and the United States will square off in Saturday's semifinal at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup tournament. Canada punched its ticket to the final four for a ninth consecutive time in the event with a 73-49 win over Colombia in Friday's quarterfinals. The U.S. squashed the Dominican Republic 110-44. Brazil and Argentina will meet in the other semifinal. Canada, which has a 4-1 record in the 2025 tournament, broke Friday's game wide open in the second quarter, turning a seven-point lead into a 21-point advantage at halftime. Shay Colley led Canada with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from two-point range, while adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. She now has 212 career points at the Women's AmeriCup, moving to sixth all-time among Canadians since 2003. 'We're excited about being able to move on to the next round and play in the semifinals,' said Canadian head coach Nell Fortner. 'I thought our defence was pretty strong today. There are some areas we need to clean up, but we were locked in defensively. If we can smooth out the offence (on Saturday), it'll put us in a better position.' Yvonne Ejim matched Colley's 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Kayla Alexander contributed across the board with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks in the win. 'I thought we did a great job as a team coming in and applying pressure, pushing the pace at the start of the game,' said Colley. Canada dominated the glass with a 46-32 rebounding advantage and generated 15 points off 18 Colombian turnovers. Six players scored seven or more points, and the team collected 12 steals in a well-rounded defensive performance. Canada also outscored Colombia 13-4 in fast-break points and held its opponent to zero second-chance opportunities. Through five games, Canada's average margin of victory stands at plus-28 — the team's highest at the AmeriCup since 2015. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
The Province
3 hours ago
- The Province
Why you should be shopping at your local farmers market this summer
Goodies gathered at the Duncan Farmers Market on Vancouver Island, from fresh produce to cheese to locally made cretons and dips. Photo by Joanne Sasvari Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Now that we're all getting serious about buying Canadian and supporting local, one of the best ways to do just that is to shop at your nearby farmers market. It's also one of the most delicious ways to get your groceries — and the most enjoyable, too. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Luckily, here in the Lower Mainland, there are plenty of farmers markets to choose from — eight of them right in Vancouver (West End, Downtown, Kitsilano, False Creek, Riley Park, Mount Pleasant, Trout Lake and Hastings Park), with another dozen or so more from Pemberton to Chilliwack. Admittedly, visiting a farmers market takes a little planning. Most are held only once a week for a few hours in the morning or the evening, often just in the summer months (though a growing number of them are open year-round). You can't just drop in any old time like you would at, say, your neighbourhood City Market. You might even have to get up a little earlier than usual to be sure to get the best produce. And you definitely need to remember your shopping bags. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But it's worth it, for so many reasons. Most farmers markets have strict rules that limit the products sold at them to local ones (or at least those grown or produced in B.C.) and about principals being the ones doing the selling. That means you'll likely be chatting to the farmer, the cheesemaker, the baker, the brewer or a member of their family, and not a sales rep. They can tell you about what you're buying, how it was grown and how to cook it. You're not just shopping; you're participating in an act of community, supporting your farmers and your local food security. And this is a really, really good time to connect with our farmers. Last year, as you may recall, was a brutal growing year, thanks to the devastating winter event in January. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Crops of all sorts, from tree fruits to ground vegetables to wine grapes, were affected — the Creston Valley, for instance, lost its entire cherry crop, which also had a devastating effect on the bees relying on the blossoms for food. It's been so bad that last summer the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, which comprised more than 230 farming families, closed after nearly 90 years in business because of 'extremely low estimated fruit volumes, weather effects and difficult market and financial conditions.' Even without that cold snap, farmers have been struggling with supply-chain issues, rising costs, drought, fires, floods and now the threat of tariffs and a looming trade war from across the border. If we want them to keep growing our food, we have to keep supporting them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But that's not even the best reason to shop at a farmers market. The best reason is simply because it's the surest way to get the freshest, finest, most seasonal produce available, often picked just hours before you tuck it into your cooler. While you're at the market, pick up a wedge of cheese and a bottle of wine, a pie for dessert, a carton of duck eggs and some seedlings for your garden. Discover a local fashion designer or the handmade coffee table you didn't know you needed. Tuck a bouquet of locally grown flowers in your bag, just because they make you happy. There will almost certainly be some happy dogs hanging around, and babies in carts, and little kids dancing to a live band. You'll probably run into some old friends and make some new ones. Best of all, you'll have something wonderful to eat after you get home. Find a market near you and other info at or Read More Vancouver Whitecaps World News Vancouver Canucks News
Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Quebec to 'Carefully Examine' New Proposal for Saguenay LNG Megaproject
The government of Premier Francois Legault is promising to "carefully examine" a proposal for a new gas liquefaction plant and terminal in the Saguenay-Lac St. Jean region that would be just as big as the GNL-Quebec megaproject the province rejected in 2021 after years of opposition, Le Devoir revealed in an exclusive dispatch Friday. The proposal by Marinvest Energy Canada, a subsidiary of Bergen, Norway-based Marinvest Energy, would also require a new pipeline through several hundred kilometres of wilderness to connect the plant with TC Energy's Canada-wide gas network, just as GNL-Quebec intended, Le Devoir writes. The gas would be produced by primarily by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a methane-intensive process that is prohibited in Quebec. After squashing the previous LNG proposal, Quebec became the world's first jurisdiction to ban oil and gas exploration in 2022. "We believe there is a strong business case for an LNG [liquefied natural gas] project in Quebec aimed at exporting Canadian natural gas to international markets, particularly in Europe," Greg Cano, one of three Marinvest Energy Canada directors and the only one not based in Norway, told Le Devoir in an email. "We believe Quebec can play a key role in diversifying export options for Canadian natural gas, particularly at a time when relying solely on the U.S. market presents increasing challenges." That optimism runs counter to an analysis released just six weeks ago by Investors for Paris Compliance (IPC), which pointed to an expected 40% increase in global LNG production between 2024 and 2028 to argue that there's no business case for a new terminal in Quebec. European LNG demand was down 18% between 2022 and 2024, and the group said Canadian exporters would also have trouble competing in Asian markets, The Canadian Press reported at the time. "Investing in infrastructure that will be very expensive and likely won't be profitable will weaken our economy rather than strengthen it," economist and IPC senior advisor Renaud Gignac told the news agency. IPC warned that inflation could drive the cost of the $18-billion GNL-Quebec project above $33 billion, making it impossible to complete without taxpayer subsidies. "These are considerable investments that mobilize public capital and labour as well," Gignac said. "When you direct resources to this type of project, you make choices, and we believe there are options that could be more profitable in the long term, for both public and private investors." One of Marinvest's identified lobbying targets, Hydro-Quebec, has been going all-in on those other options, with a planned $185-billion investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and new transmission over the next decade. Cano also tried to position LNG as "carbon-free" energy, even though methane is a climate super-pollutant with about 84 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over the crucial 20-year span when humanity will be scrambling to get climate change under control. The Legault rejected the notion that gas is carbon-free in its response to the GNL-Quebec bid, "emphasizing in particular that the project that was to be built in Saguenay risked 'disadvantaging the energy transition' in the countries that would purchase this liquefied natural gas," Le Devoir says. A provincial spokesperson told the paper it was too soon to say whether the project would be eligible for subsidies, and the office of Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson wouldn't say whether it would qualify as one of the "nation-building" projects the Carney government is looking for. But "the current context is disrupting several aspects of our economy," a spokesperson for provincial Economy and Energy Minister Christine Frechette told Le Devoir in a statement. "We have always said that if new projects are presented, we are ready to examine them carefully. That is what we will do with this one." The spokesperson added that "social acceptability remains an essential condition for any project, and there will have to be benefits for Quebec." In a release, Greenpeace Canada urged the Carney government to exclude the Marinvest proposal from its list of nation-building projects, while calling on Quebec to "close the door on new fossil fuel transportation and export projects so that it can focus on renewable energy." "We should be building offshore wind farms, not floating fossil fuel plants", said Greenpeace Senior Energy Strategist Keith Stewart. "There is no way that a fossil fuel project with so little consultation and such a weak business case should be on Mark Carney's list of projects that can bypass environmental laws." Marinvest has hired two lobbyists to carry its message to the provincial government, Le Devoir reports, and two in Ottawa, Greenpeace says.
