NBA All-Star Fires Strong View on Impending New WNBA Team

The WNBA will add two expansion teams in the next two years with Golden State and Toronto debuting in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Golden State already announced that its team will be called the Valkyries. Toronto, meanwhile, has yet to pick a moniker. Team officials asked citizens to make suggestions during the launch in August 2024.

With the WNBA's skyrocketing popularity, Toronto's looming team is expected to quickly gain supporters, similar to the fans of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA.

Speaking of which, former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan said he's already excited for Toronto's WNBA squad.

"That’s extremely big because I’ve always been a person to advocate for how great of a city this is, and how it should gain the utmost attention that it deserves at all levels,” DeRozan said in a report from Toronto Star's Doug Smith . “I love that, that’s amazing.”

The six-time All-Star has consistently professed his love for Toronto, where he started his career and blossomed into a franchise player. He played nine seasons with the Raptors.

He even said in the same report that he's open to retiring in Toronto if the opportunity arises.

The 35-year-old DeRozan will start the latest chapter in his career when he debuts for the Sacramento Kings in the upcoming season.

DeRozan was acquired by the Kings in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs in July 2024. He will provide more scoring punch for Sacramento, forming a vaunted trio with Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox.

Related: 3-Time NBA All-Star Predicted to be Traded to Kings