Staying on Tempo with Teresa Resch
When Teresa Resch steps into a room—or, in this case, in front of the camera for a shoot—there’s a quiet magnetism that immediately draws you in. As president of the Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first WNBA franchise and the league’s first international expansion, Resch has been busy architecting not only her team, but a larger movement, establishing a blueprint for women’s professional sports in Canada that’s as ambitious as it is essential.
For Canadian sports fans, the Tempo represents a cultural milestone. “We’re Canada’s team,” Resch says, reflecting on the symbolic weight of a WNBA franchise landing north of the border. “This is something that’s never been done before,” she continues. “We plant our flag before we even have a single player.” That distinction is significant: Canada’s top female basketball talent will finally have a stage to call home, and the country’s growing basketball community will have a professional women’s team to rally behind.
Resch knows that the conversation around women’s sports has moved far beyond questions of legitimacy or demand. We’re past justification. Now, the dialogue is about optimization and making the most of the opportunity in front of her. “Yes, the conversation has moved forward,” she says, “but there are still people who aren’t exposed to it, who may not understand the value of women’s sports. This isn’t charity. This is good business.” She’s right. Women’s sports have grown exponentially in recent years, from youth participation to media attention and revenue potential. Yet significant barriers remain—most notably infrastructure. Resch points out that most arenas and practice facilities have historically been built with men’s sports in mind. Purpose-built spaces for women’s teams remain scarce. “We’ll know we’ve reached the next stage when there’s a practice facility or arena designed specifically for women’s sports. That requires capital, commitment, and a shared vision,” she says.
Optimizing the sport goes beyond facilities. It’s about creating an ecosystem that also considers timing, scheduling, media coverage, and self-sustenance. “It’s an entire flywheel,” Resch says. “All these factors influence one another. Getting them right ensures the best product on the court and the best experience for fans.” For Resch, it’s a playbook she’s actively writing for the Tempo, a team that is simultaneously building local fan engagement, a national identity, and a competitive roster for the WNBA.
Resch’s excitement isn’t confined to the next season. She looks ahead five years and sees limitless possibility. Reflecting on where the WNBA was just five years ago—navigating a pandemic bubble that could have ended the league—Resch marvels at the league’s trajectory. “It’s incredible to see how far women’s sports have come in such a short time,” she says. The product on the court has grown stronger and more skilled, revenue streams have expanded, and fandom has diversified. Resch admits she can’t predict exactly where things will be in five years—but she is determined to be part of shaping it.
One of the most exciting elements of this moment, according to Resch, is the way professional sports have evolved alongside culture. Name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in college sports, social media, streaming platforms, and influencer culture have transformed how players and teams engage with fans. Athletes now arrive at the professional level with established personal brands, creating deeper, more direct connections with audiences. “The stories of our players are how people are going to fall in love with us,” she says. “Fans don’t just connect with wins and losses—they connect with identity, community, and stories.”
Resch approaches this challenge with a balance of vision and humility. Launching the first international WNBA franchise means there’s no precedent to follow, but she is careful to learn from the league’s history. The WNBA has been the longest-running professional team sport for women—30 years of trailblazers, iconic players, and invaluable lessons. Resch leverages this legacy while acknowledging that the Toronto Tempo must carve its own path. Being first outside the U.S. comes with nuances and opportunities, and she’s determined to use these differences to the team’s advantage. “It’s not better or worse, it’s different,” she says. “And embracing that makes us stand apart.”
The excitement around the Tempo isn’t just in Resch’s office. Canadians are already engaging with the franchise in unprecedented ways, long before a single game has been played. Fans have bought merchandise, put down deposits for season seats, and shared excitement online from every province in the country. “It’s incredible to see how well supported we are,” Resch says, recounting a moment when she spotted a fan at a Blue Jays game sporting a Tempo hoodie. “It’s exceeded my expectations.” That enthusiasm points to a larger cultural moment: the Tempo is a symbol of possibility, inspiring young athletes who can now see themselves represented on Canadian soil.
The timing couldn’t be better. Canada has long exported top basketball talent to U.S. leagues, with players making international headlines and leaving a mark in the NBA and WNBA. Now, for the first time, Canadian players have a professional home base outside the Raptors, giving them a platform to compete, inspire, and cultivate domestic fandom. “If you can see it, you can be it,” Resch says. “Nobody’s ever seen this on Canadian soil before. Now they will.”
Resch’s approach to leadership mirrors her broader vision for women’s sports: collaborative, ambitious, and adaptive. From a founding team of five, the Tempo has grown to nearly thirty, each person bringing intelligence, motivation, and dedication. “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you,” she advises. That philosophy, combined with her strategic thinking, ensures the team can navigate the unique challenges of a first-of-its-kind franchise while seizing every opportunity for impact.
Fans, too, are central to the Tempo’s strategy. Resch emphasizes the importance of connecting with supporters personally and authentically. The franchise has hosted live events across Toronto, Vancouver, and soon Montreal, providing spaces for community engagement and early brand-building. Through these interactions, the Tempo is learning who its fans are, what excites them, and how the team can foster lasting loyalty. “It’s fascinating to see how our fans grow and evolve with the team,” Resch says, highlighting the mutual investment of energy, passion, and belief between the franchise and its community.
In addition to infrastructure and fan engagement, Resch sees broader societal impact as part of the Tempo’s mission. Women’s sports have always been intertwined with social statements, advocacy, and representation. The WNBA itself has been a platform for activism, and Resch envisions the Tempo continuing that tradition in Canada. The league’s visibility allows it to shape narratives about identity, equity, and inclusion, reinforcing the idea that sports can be both entertaining and transformative.
For Resch, the favourite part of her job is its dynamism. “It’s never the same,” she says. Every day presents new challenges, opportunities, and milestones. From player recruitment to media strategy, community engagement to infrastructure planning, Resch thrives on the complexity of building something unprecedented. Her energy and vision are infectious, inspiring not just the Tempo team but the broader sports community.
Looking ahead, she sees a future where women’s sports are fully integrated into the cultural and economic fabric of Canadian life. She imagines purpose-built facilities, prime-time media coverage, and a fan base that rivals the most storied teams in history. She sees a generation of young athletes who now have role models and a tangible path to professional success without leaving their home country. And she sees the Toronto Tempo at the center of this transformation: a symbol of possibility, ambition, and the power of visionary leadership.
Launching a professional sports franchise is never easy. Launching the first international WNBA franchise, in a country that has never had one, in a time when media landscapes and athlete branding are changing at breakneck speed—well, that’s unprecedented. Yet Teresa Resch doesn’t shy away from the challenge. She embraces it, builds around it, and uses it as a launchpad for innovation.
As the Tempo prepare to tip off their inaugural season, the eyes of Canada (and the world) are watching. The stakes are high, the expectations are monumental, and the opportunity to make history has never been clearer. For Resch, the journey is just beginning. And if the first months are any indication, the Toronto Tempo aren’t just a team to watch, but a movement to be a part of.
