There were certainly no shortage of headlines coming out of the world of sports this week. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images, Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/Yahoo Canada Illustration)
This was a week filled with history and huge ramifications for Canadian sports teams and athletes.
In one of the most anticipated moments in women’s basketball history in the country, the Toronto Tempo named its first-ever players via the Expansion Draft for its inaugural 2026 season. Elsewhere, the Canada men’s soccer team received some big news from the European qualifiers for the World Cup that shifts the dynamic for its chances in a few months.
In some bad news, the Toronto Raptors suffered a miserable loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings, putting their hopes of a direct path to the playoffs in real jeopardy. The Toronto Blue Jays slumped in their own way, but their misery was compounded by a pair of big injuries.
Here’s everything that happened in and around Canadians in the world of sport over the past week:
Toronto Tempo adds first-ever players via WNBA Expansion Draft
Aug 19, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (3) tries to slip past Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (44) during the second half at CareFirst Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
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We start with some history as the addition of the Toronto Tempo to the WNBA became all the more real on Friday, when the franchise added its first-ever players to the roster via the Expansion Draft that also included the Portland Fire.
Julie Allemand will forever be the first-ever player added to the Tempo roster, getting selected second overall after the Portland Fire had the first pick and broke plenty of hearts north of the border by choosing Chatham, Ont., native Bridget Carleton.
The most recognizable name on the roster will be former Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey, who comes over after averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists last season. She has a well-rounded game but showcased her full penchant for scoring at the Unrivaled Basketball League, a 3-on-3 league, where she put up 25.3 points per game. Mabrey is also known for having a fiery personality that isn’t afraid to clash with the opposition.
The first names on the Tempo roster are Mabrey, Allemand, Nina Milic, Maria Conde, Kristy Wallace, Aaliyah Nye, Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Nyara Sabally, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa.
Next up for the Tempo is the WNBA Draft on Monday, Apr. 13.
Blue Jays’ bats snoozing through start of season as injury woes worsen
Mar 30, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays Cody Ponce (66) tips his cap to the fans upon leaving the game after being injured on a play at first base against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
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After opening the season with a 4-1 start and looking every bit the team that rode terrific pitching and timely hitting to wins last season, the Toronto Blue Jays have come crashing back down to earth with four straight losses.
Worst of all, there has been injury added to insult with new acquisition Cody Ponce suffering a strained MCL and getting placed on the 60-day injured list while starting catcher Alejandro Kirk took a foul tip off his thumb and been relegated to the 15-day IL.
While you expect the hitting to turn around soon enough, it’s shocking just how bad they’ve been out the gate. George Springer is hitting .158 through the opening nine games, Nathan Lukes is hitting .133, Daulton Varsho is at .172, and Addison Barger has a single hit through 22 at-bats. You’re not going to win very many baseball games when half your lineup is as cold as this.
Much was made of how favourable the first-half season schedule is for the Blue Jays, but they’ve now lost two of three to the Colorado Rockies and been swept by the Chicago White Sox. Up next is probably the biggest test they’ll have all season, a World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Athlete of the Week: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Apr 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) laugh after a game against the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Hamilton, Ont.’s own is closing out the season in style en route to what many are anticipating will be his second regular season MVP crown.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder had a marquee matchup against the East-leading Detroit Pistons this past week. The Canadian erupted for 47 points, including some terrific play in the clutch, as he shot 12-of-19 for the night, along with a gargantuan 21-of-25 at the free-throw line. The Thunder won in overtime, but it would have ended in regulation if what looked to be Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winning triple wasn’t called off for an offensive foul.
Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has won 20 of its last 22 games to stave off a strong charge from the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama for the top seed, something that could have potentially superseded Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP campaign.
DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings goes to the basket against Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Mark Blinch via Getty Images)
Things have taken a turn for the worse in Raptor-land and it came courtesy a pair of familiar faces. On Wednesday night, DeMar DeRozan and Precious Achiuwa each scored 28 points in a massive upset win for the Sacramento Kings against the Raptors in Toronto.
For perspective, the Kings held the worst record in the Western Conference at 19-57 entering that game. They were also coming off a 17-point loss to a Brooklyn Nets team that is currently 19-59 in the standings. For the Raptors, the outcome vs. the Kings was completely inexcusable and embarrassing, while the effects will fully be felt in the coming days.
After blowing out a depleted and tanking Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Toronto unsurprisingly lost to the East’s two-seed Boston on Sunday afternoon. They now face the Miami Heat on both Tuesday and Thursday at home to try and stave off needing the Play-In Tournament to qualify for the playoffs.
At 43-35, the Raptors are currently seventh in the East behind the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) and Philadelphia 76ers (43-35). The Sixers own the tie-breaker against the Raptors while Toronto swept the season series against Atlanta 4-0.
On an individual note, Scottie Barnes has relished the opportunity to ramp up his playmaking in the absence of Immanuel Quickley due to plantar fascia, recording six straight games with at least 10 assists. The Raptors will need Quickley to return soon if they are to make the playoffs, though.
Canada avoids Italy in opening match of FIFA World Cup; Davies back in action
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – Finals – Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy – Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina – March 31, 2026 Italy’s Gianluca Mancini, Pio Esposito, Marco Palestra, Leonardo Spinazzola and Federico Gatti look dejected after the match after failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup REUTERS/Matteo Ciambelli
(REUTERS / Reuters)
It’s the news that dominated headlines in the soccer world: Italy missing out on a third consecutive men’s FIFA World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on penalties in the final European playoff qualifier for the world’s biggest sporting event.
What that means for Canada is that it will now face BiH in the opening match of the World Cup instead of a more daunting task against the four-time tournament champions. The first match will be played in Toronto. There is now every reason to believe Canada can advance out of the group stage for the first time in history, let alone pick up its first points.
Now in a group with Switzerland, Qatar, and BiH, Canada is the second-highest ranked team in the group ahead of both Qatar and BiH. Switzerland will be the favourite to win the group, but there exists a small possibility that Canada may even be able to pull off a surprise result and win the group.
Boosting World Cup hopes is the news that Canada’s best soccer player Alphonso Davies made his return to the Bayern Munich lineup in the 86th minute on Saturday and teed up a match-winning assist to Lennart Karl for a last-gasp 3-2 win in the Bundesliga. It also created Munich’s 100th league goal in just 28 matches.
Health has been the story of Davies’ season, returning from a nine-month absence due to an ACL tear, then suffering a pair of hamstring strains after two separate returns to action. The hope will be that Davies can build his body back up with limited appearances in the near term and be at full strength when it matters most.
Canadiens’ 8-game win streak ends against Devils
Mar 29, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates his goal with left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20), right wing Cole Caufield (13) and right wing Ivan Demidov (93) against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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The Montreal Canadiens’ dominant eight-game win streak and surge towards the postseason ended on Sunday with a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Most impressive during the streak was how well they performed on their most recent five-game road trip, winning four straight including a thumping 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning before falling short against the Devils.
Captain Nick Suzuki was stellar on the trip, collecting nine points to give him 27 goals and 68 assists on the season. His 95 points is a career-high and ranks seventh in the league.
Edmonton Oilers’ superstar Connor McDavid continues to lead the way in that category with 126 points, though he has just a one-point lead over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov in a race that looks like it will come down to the final day. Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon sits third with 122 points.
Elsewhere in the postseason race, the Ottawa Senators are clinging on to a playoff spot at seventh in the East with 90 points which is tied with the Philadelphia Flyers in eighth. The Washington Capitals, in 12th, sit just three points behind showing just how tight the battle is.
Out west, the Winnipeg Jets are three points behind the eighth-placed Nashville Predators.
Canada loses to Sweden in men’s World Curling Championship final
Matt Dunstone and his rink lost 9-6 to Sweden’s Niklas Edin in the final of the men’s world curling championship in what was ultimately an impressive debut at the tournament for the Canadian.
There’s no shame in falling short against Edin, as he extended his record for world championship titles to eight. Edin is one of the most decorated curlers ever, with an Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medal to his name as well.
Dunstone, Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden, and Ryan Harnden pulled of an extremely clutch run to reach the final, pulling off a comeback against Italy in the first playoff round and then beating a tough Scotland team 9-7 in the semis.
“They showed today why they’re eight-time world champions,” Dunstone told World Curling.
“It’s unfortunate for sure. Wish [we] could have put a little bit more pressure on them throughout the game, but I mean, again, they were just making everything under the sun and we were chasing the whole game.”