Monica Wright Rogers has just set foot in Toronto to begin her role as general manager of the WNBA’s expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, and she can already feel the city’s enthusiastic support.
Her hiring makes her the 12th member of Canada’s first-ever WNBA franchise.
“Once I stepped foot in this city—despite the snow—that excitement has exponentially increased in just feeling the appetite and excitement from fans and everyone in the sports world here. We have no shortage of support,” Wright Rogers told CBC Sports.
At 36, Wright Rogers brings an impressive resume, having played seven seasons as a WNBA point guard, winning two championships with the Minnesota Lynx, and serving as assistant general manager for the Phoenix Mercury in 2023.
Tempo President Teresa Resch revealed that Wright Rogers emerged as the top candidate after an intensive interview process.
“She came up here and really represented herself well. You could tell she’s really authentic and genuine, had a great plan, was very focused on the purpose and the process, which was great to hear,” Resch told CBC Sports.
Now, with the Tempo set to debut in 2026, Wright Rogers’ immediate tasks include hiring a head coach and assembling a competitive roster.
While she did not disclose potential coaching candidates, she expressed confidence in the process, emphasizing the dynamic future of the WNBA with an upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement and an unprecedented number of free agents, including Canada’s Kia Nurse, WNBA champion Kelsey Plum, and Team USA star A’Ja Wilson.
“I’m really excited to sign our first player,” Wright Rogers said. “We’ve got time to pull the best brains together and strategize about how we want to approach this unprecedented time in the WNBA and women’s sports as a whole.”
The WNBA’s 2024 season saw record-breaking success, with the highest regular-season viewership on ESPN platforms, the highest total game attendance in 22 years, and record merchandise sales.
As the Toronto Tempo prepares to make history, Wright Rogers is committed to building a championship-winning culture. Having played a key role in the Minnesota Lynx dynasty, she knows what it takes to create a winning franchise.
“I was very early on with the Lynx in their dynasty in the early stages, and being a part of the build of a championship culture, a championship team… I pull from that every day,” she said. “I’m hoping to make sure that is ingrained into the culture of this franchise as well.”
Beyond basketball, Wright Rogers and her family are embracing Toronto’s vibrant food scene, and she is eager to establish a foundation for a team that reflects Canada’s basketball and women’s sports culture.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime… to lay the foundation for great culture and one that is very thoughtful and reflective of not just Toronto, but Canada’s basketball, women’s basketball culture.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
