Women’s sports are thriving in Canada — here’s how to ensure it stays that way

Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston shoots between Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas and forward DeWanna Bonner in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, on May 20, 2024.& (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) by Shannon Kerwin, Brock University; Cheri L. Bradish, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Meg Popovic, Toronto Metropolitan University In Canada, and the Toronto region in particular, the visibility of high-profile women in sports is on the rise. Whether it’s on the court, ice, pitch or even on the bench, women are making their mark and inspiring future generations. The successful first season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and expansions announced in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) are testaments to this growing momentum. The foundation for the excitement has been laid. According to a report commissioned by Canadian Women & Sport, 17 million Canadians indicate they are fans of women’s sport. And on Feb. 16, the PWHL’s first game at Scotiabank Arena set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with a crowd of 19,285. The WNBA played a preseason game in Toronto in 2023 to a sold-out crowd, and has seen unprecedented growth in interest over the last five years. Viewership increased 21 per...