The WNBA made history Friday night, and the Seattle Storm made the most of the stage. In the league’s first regular-season game held outside the United States, Seattle ended a six-game slide with an 80-78 win over the Atlanta Dream at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, in front of roughly 16,000 fans.
Though the Dream were the designated hosts, the energy in the building belonged largely to Seattle. Fans filled the lower bowl in Storm jerseys, Toronto Tempo merchandise and even Vancouver Grizzlies throwbacks, creating an atmosphere that carried the Storm through crunch time.
“It was an incredible crowd tonight,” guard Skylar Diggins said. “First time in Vancouver, they showed a lot of love. I know it was a Dream home game, but it felt like a Storm home game. We really leaned on them tonight to help us lock in that victory.”
Atlanta star Rhyne Howard, who scored 21 points, acknowledged the environment tipped toward Seattle.
“Felt like a home game for Seattle, honestly,” Howard said. “For us to play in front of that many fans, it isn’t foreign to us, but for us to do it here, in this historic moment, it felt good.”
Momentum Swings Late
Seattle built a double-digit lead in the third quarter before Atlanta surged back with a 16-2 run to open the fourth. The Dream briefly went ahead by five inside the final three minutes, but the Storm responded with defensive stops and timely baskets from Diggins.
Ezi Magbegor protected the rim with three blocks in the closing period, while Seattle’s defense held Atlanta scoreless on its final two possessions.
“Big blocks by Ezi, big defensive stops by the group and just willed ourselves to this victory,” head coach Noelle Quinn said. “We’ve been in these kinds of games for the last couple of weeks, so it was just about persevering through each moment.”
Significance Beyond the Scoreboard
For players on both sides, the game was about more than playoff positioning. It marked a milestone in the league’s push beyond U.S. borders and offered Canadian fans a preview of what’s coming with Toronto’s expansion team in 2026.
“As a rookie, it’s a moment that I’m really proud of and a moment I get to share with my teammates,” Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao said. “I’ve never been here before, but I do have an uncle that played here a long time ago in the CFL – Joe Paopao. Being able to be in his old stomping grounds is an amazing feeling.”
Allisha Gray pointed to the opportunity for young fans in the stands.
“Continue to follow your dreams,” Gray said. “I think it’s cool for them to be able to see the WNBA up close and personal.”
Veteran center Brittney Griner added that the moment was years in the making.
“It took countless hours and time put in by everybody – players, from our organizations to the league – on trying to build this up and be able to be here,” she said. “This is something that we always wanted, but we’re actually seeing it happen now.”
Seattle forward Nneka Ogwumike noted that events like Friday’s are about making international basketball access routine.
“I’m hoping that it becomes commonplace for a lot of young girls who look up to us and also get to experience their dreams in real time,” she said.
Looking Ahead
The Storm had already played in Canada during a 2024 preseason game in Edmonton, but Friday marked the first regular-season contest on Canadian soil. The night also doubled as a launchpad for the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo, who will debut in 2026. Team president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers confirmed that Toronto will stage two regular-season games in Vancouver next year.
Storm rookie Dominque Malonga, reflecting on her own international journey, captured the spirit of the evening.
“It means a lot, because since I’m a foreigner that means the WNBA is expanding,” Malonga said. “It’s a chance for foreigners to have a chance to attend games, to see the players … get a jersey signed, or take pictures, it’s just beautiful to see.”
Seattle left Vancouver with more than a needed win. The Storm and Dream shared in a night that underscored the league’s growth, its global reach, and its future in Canada.
