A packed Toronto arena leaves Holly Rowe emotional
The WNBA’s growing reach was on full display in Toronto when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark faced the expansion Toronto Tempo. Before the game began, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe became emotional while looking around the packed Scotiabank Arena.
Her reaction quickly attracted attention online and added another memorable moment to an already closely watched night.
The moment happened before tipoff
Rowe’s emotional reaction came during pregame preparations rather than during an important play. She filmed herself becoming tearful while players and fans prepared for the evening matchup.
In the video, Rowe said she was trying to work but kept crying after seeing what had been built in Canada. She then showed viewers the crowd filling Scotiabank Arena.
A crowd of 19,300 filled the arena
The Fever-Tempo matchup was played before a reported sold-out crowd of 19,300 at Scotiabank Arena. Rowe specifically highlighted the attendance while explaining why she felt proud.
The game was one of three Toronto Tempo home contests scheduled for Scotiabank Arena during their inaugural season. The matchup was listed for August 18 as part of Toronto’s 2026 schedule.
Caitlin Clark made her Canadian debut
The Toronto matchup marked Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA game in Canada. Clark entered the game with the Indiana Fever, who were visiting Toronto during their August road trip.
The Fever defeated the Tempo 101-95, with Clark recording 24 points and seven assists. Indiana’s official game coverage confirmed the result and Clark’s statistical contribution after the final buzzer.
Clark contributed 24 points
Clark finished the Toronto game with 24 points and 7 assists for Indiana. Her performance was part of a balanced Fever effort that produced a six-point victory.
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 29 points and tied a WNBA record by scoring 20 or more points in 20 consecutive games. Aliyah Boston also contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Toronto was playing its inaugural season
The Toronto Tempo entered the WNBA in 2026 as one of two new franchises. The Portland Fire also joined the league that season, bringing the WNBA’s total to 15 teams.
Toronto began its inaugural campaign with home games primarily scheduled at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The franchise also planned selected home games at Scotiabank Arena, Bell Center and Rogers Arena.
Canada had already set an attendance record
The Toronto crowd was not Canada’s first major WNBA attendance milestone during 2026. On July 10, the Tempo hosted the Dallas Wings at Montreal’s Bell Center before 20,996 fans.
That attendance established a new WNBA regular-season record, surpassing the previous mark of 20,711 set in Washington in 2024. The Montreal game demonstrated the strong attendance surrounding Toronto’s national schedule.
Interesting fact: Holly Rowe received the 2023 Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Rowe has covered the WNBA for years
Rowe has spent decades working in sports broadcasting and joined ESPN full-time in 1998. Her career has included extensive coverage of women’s basketball and other major sporting events.
She received the 2022 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Reporter and won the 2023 Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award. Those honors came before her emotional reaction to the Toronto crowd.
Interesting fact: Holly Rowe won the 2022 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Reporter, recognizing her work as a sports broadcaster for ESPN and ABC.
The WNBA reached its 30th season
The Toronto game took place during the WNBA’s 30th season in 2026. The league began its inaugural season in 1997 after being established in 1996.
The milestone season included 15 teams and 44 regular-season games for every team. The WNBA also launched a season-long celebration focused on its history, current players, and future growth.
The league expanded its national reach
The 2026 WNBA season included a record 216 nationally distributed regular-season games. Those broadcasts were shared across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, CBS Sports, ION, USA Network, and NBA TV.
The expanded schedule provided multiple viewing options while the league operated with 15 teams. The WNBA also scheduled 330 total regular-season games across the 2026 campaign.
Rowe’s comments focused on women’s basketball
In her emotional video, Rowe discussed the size of the Toronto audience and her pride in women’s basketball. Her accompanying Instagram caption also described growing the WNBA as a passion in her life.
Rowe thanked fans who supported the Toronto and Indiana matchup. Her recorded reaction focused on the attendance and the broader women’s basketball environment in Canada.
Her video drew online criticism
After the video circulated, some fans criticized Rowe for not mentioning Clark by name when discussing the crowd. Those reactions became part of the online conversation surrounding the viral clip.
The criticism did not change the game’s official result or Clark’s statistics. Indiana still defeated Toronto 101-95, while Clark finished with 24 points and seven assists.
The internet is also talking about Caitlin Clark foul controversy exploding after former NFL referee questions WNBA officials.
The Toronto moment became part of a bigger trend
Rowe’s reaction arrived during a season featuring expansion, larger venues and significant attendance milestones across Canada. Toronto’s inaugural season included games in four Canadian venues, extending WNBA competition beyond its primary home arena.
The league’s 2026 expansion and record attendance events provided additional context for Rowe’s comments. The Toronto game itself added another large crowd to an increasingly prominent Canadian basketball season.
In other news, “You’ll never be Caitlin Clark,” fan backlash erupts over Olivia Miles.
What do you think of Holly Rowe’s emotional reaction to the WNBA crowd in Toronto? Like this slideshow if you enjoyed it, and comment with your take on the moment and the atmosphere at the game.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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