Seattle Storm defeats Atlanta Dream in historic WNBA game in Vancouver
In a meeting that will go down in history, the WNBA celebrated its first regular season game outside the United States, with the Atlanta Dream as the home team, but with the Seattle Storm taking the victory by 80-78 against a crowd of almost 16,000 fans at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The game, played 140 miles from where the Storm played against Atlanta on Wednesday, saw Seattle break a six-game losing streak, while the Dream saw their six-game winning streak come to an end, both being the longest streaks in the league.Rhyne Howard, from the Dream, who scored 21 points, also expressed her impressions of the game’s atmosphere.“It was an incredible crowd tonight. It’s the first time in Vancouver, they showed a lot of love. We love coming here, playing in front of this electric fanbase. I know it was a Dream home game, but it felt like a Storm home game. We really counted on them tonight to help us secure that win”.
Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm player
The match was crucial for both teams in their fight for a playoff spot. The victory allowed the Storm to avoid falling to a compromised position in the standings, while the Dream tied with the New York Liberty for second place in the standings. The game was a historic moment for the WNBA, expanding its reach and demonstrating the growing interest in women’s basketball.“Honestly, it felt like a home game for Seattle. For us to play in front of so many fans isn’t something strange, but to do it here, at this historic moment, felt good.”
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream player
This was the second consecutive year that Seattle played in Canada, following a preseason game in Edmonton in May 2024.“The atmosphere was great. I think the fans were really into the game and excited, so it was great to play in front of this crowd and in this stadium”.
Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream player
Next year, regular season games in Canada will be nothing new, as the Toronto Tempo will join the WNBA as an expansion team in 2026. During Friday’s game, Toronto team president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers announced that the Tempo will play two regular season games in Vancouver next season.“We are grateful to be in this region. For us, being able to play the international games in Canada and also be the first international game in the regular season, demonstrates the growth of this league”.
Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm player
