New WNBA team Toronto Tempo strike gold with FanDuel sponsorship
FanDuel has been named the first official iGaming partner of the Toronto Tempo under a new multi-year agreement, marking a significant commercial milestone for Canada’s incoming WNBA franchise.
The Toronto Tempo were formally announced as an expansion team in 2024 and are set to join the league in 2026, becoming the first WNBA team based outside the United States. While the playing roster is yet to be finalised, the club is expected to build around a mix of international talent and Canadian stars as it prepares for its inaugural season.
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FanDuel Vice President of Marketing Tom Burdakin said the partnership with the Tempo ticked a lot of boxes, including improving their presence in female sports.
“Partnering with the Toronto Tempo in their inaugural season is an exciting opportunity for FanDuel customers and basketball fans,” he said.
“As a company that shares the same passion for community and empowering women’s sports, we are proud to support a new franchise that will celebrate fans and elevate women’s professional sports in Canada.”
The partnership will see FanDuel integrated across in-arena, digital and fan engagement channels, as the operator looks to deepen its presence in women’s sport, where it already holds league-level ties with the WNBA.
Betting partnerships are not yet widespread at team level in the WNBA, making the deal notable, particularly as the league continues to grow in popularity.
“One word to describe this partnership is transformative,” Toronto Tempo’s Chief Revenue Officer Lisa Ferkul said.
“Welcoming FanDuel marks a significant milestone for our organization as we continue to build Canada’s first WNBA team and deepen fan engagement.”
The Tempo are priced at +20000, or 200-1 to win the WNBA in their inaugural season with Canadian betting sites, with the New York Liberty (+220) the title favourites.
The Tempo are due to play Connecticut in a pre-season fixture in the coming days, with their season-proper kicking off on May 8 against the Washington Mystics in Toronto.
FanDuel.ca (FanDuel.ca review) is the Ontario-friendly version of the sportsbook, with the bulk of Canada, with the exception of their daily fantasy sports product, unable to wager with the company.
