In Canada, and the Toronto region in particular, the visibility of high-profile women in sports is on the rise.
The successful first season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and expansions announced in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) are testaments to this growing momentum. The WNBA played a preseason game in Toronto in 2023 to a sold-out crowd, and has seen unprecedented growth in interest over the last five years. Viewership increased 21 per cent from the 2022 WNBA season across its national television partners — ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 — and engagement on socials and sports betting sites have set new records. Canada is also looking forward to launching its first WNBA team in Toronto in 2026.
It is for these reasons that Women's eNews will be hosting its first “21 Leaders for the 21st Century' Awards Gala in Canada in the evening September 26th, 2024, at the luxurious Arcadian in Toronto. Honorees will include professional female athletes, as well as corporate executives supporting them. “Women's eNews is thrilled to be able to shed light on the increasing support being paid to women in sports, and particularly in Toronto which is leading the way in Canada,” says Lori Sokol, PhD, Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief.
Further details about the honorees and sponsors will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. Looking forward to seeing you in Toronto!