It's here, it's real: Elation ensues amid WNBA expansion announcement of 'Canada's Team'

It's official. We knew it was happening. We knew it was coming. And now she's here.

In a jam-packed press conference at a swanky downtown hotel, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league had awarded its 14th team to the City of Toronto.

Mayor Olivia Chow proclaimed May 23, 2024 as WNBA Day in Toronto, another cherry on this massively delectable metaphoric cake.

Among the people in the room adorned with the WNBA (lovingly called "the W") announcement logo were Canada basketball legends Sylvia Sweeney, Kim Gaucher, Tammy Sutton-Brown and Tamara Tatham. Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri was flanked by Scottie Barnes and franchise alum Kyle Lowry.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on stage for the event, and it was reported that Canadian superstar artist Drake was there. I didn't see him but this day was hardly about him — it was about the women who built a foundation, the girls that will see role models step on the court, and it is about the opportunities that Canadian athletes will have to play at home.

The excitement in the room was palpable. Many reporters and journalists from the Canadian sports media scene were in attendance. There were seasoned reporters and ones just starting their careers. Broadcasters, writers and social media creatives were all capturing the moment.

I couldn't help but feel my lip quivering when the actual announcement was made. Canada has a W team. It's here. It's real.

This entire story and announcement has been a wild ride. As the journalist with the team at CBC Sports and CBC News who broke the news of the bid and the subsequent story of the finalization of the bid, it has been professionally rewarding and personally enthralling.

I ran into Gaucher and heard her telling someone that this is a dream come true. Even exceptional players with storied careers truly felt elated because of today.

I've been able to watch the rise of women's sports in the United States and Europe, but there was always a piece lacking in Canada. Until recently, we were the only country ranked in the top 10 for ice hockey, soccer or basketball who did not have a domestic league.

Allison Sandmeyer-Graves is the President of Canadian Women and Sport. I chatted with her about this announcement.

"Well, there's absolutely, without a doubt, a global movement in this direction. Frankly, Canada has been behind relative to many of our peers," she told me over Zoom.

"I have to give credit to our national teams and to the athletes being really outspoken about the fact that it's really unacceptable that Canada doesn't offer these opportunities to women right here on home soil. And people really started to take it seriously. It wasn't long after that we heard there were serious conversations happening in boardrooms and in offices where they hadn't happened before. I think the athletes advocating for themselves has a lot to do with this."

While the WNBA is an expansion team, it brings its astounding talent to Canada. At present, there are only four Canadians in the W; Kia Nurse (Los Angeles Sparks), Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx), Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics), and Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream).