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Toronto Is Having a Women’s Sports Moment—Here’s How to Plan a Trip Around It

2 weeks ago

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How to catch a game

Toronto Tempo

The WNBA season runs through the spring and summer, making a Tempo game the perfect excuse to plan a warm-weather trip to the city. Expect packed crowds, DJ sets between plays, and a buzzing, high-energy atmosphere from tip-off to the final buzzer. The team plays at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, a historic arena on the Exhibition Place grounds.

Toronto Sceptres

If you haven’t experienced a PWHL game in person yet, prepare to lose your voice. The Toronto Sceptres hockey team plays during the fall and winter months, sharing the Coca-Cola Coliseum with the Tempo as their home arena. As the first professional league in town, the Sceptres quickly built one of the most passionate fanbases in the league, so even if you’re not a hockey fan, you can expect to feel the buzz.

AFC Toronto

AFC Toronto is part of the new Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, and a trip to one of their games has quickly become one of the city’s most exciting summer outings. The NSL brings a fresh energy to the city’s sports calendar, with matches running from spring through fall at York Lions Stadium, and select games at BMO Field, which will also be hosting FIFA World Cup matches this summer. With sunlit day games in an open-air stadium, the experience feels equally like a sporting event as it does an alfresco hangout.

National Bank Open

It’s a women’s sports summer in Toronto! Every year, the National Bank Open tennis tournament rotates its men’s and women’s matches between Montreal and Toronto. Lucky for Torontonians, the women are in town this year, playing at Sobeys Stadium, in the north end of Toronto, from August 1–13. Personally, I think a tennis match is one of the chicest ways to spend a warm afternoon—relaxing, entertaining, and the perfect excuse to put together a cute outfit. If you’re visiting during those dates, the tournament is absolutely worth checking out.

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Where to stay

You might spot some of your favorite female athletes staying at the Nobu Toronto, and for good reason. The luxury hotel is intentionally discreet, and the hospitality is top-notch. Designed with warm wood tones, cove lighting, and deep blue accents, the rooms have a quiet, golden atmosphere that feels both grounding and earthy. I’ve stayed at several hotels across the city, but this is one of the few that genuinely feels like a second home. Every detail seems considered in advance—from a glass of water always waiting at my bedside to my bath salts being seamlessly refreshed before I could look for them the next day. For a five-star stay—and the possibility of a celebrity sighting—this is the spot.

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Stylish and convenient for a women’s sports weekend getaway, Hotel X Toronto is the kind of place that feels like a hidden escape in the middle of the city. In the summer, the rooftop pool is reserved exclusively for guests, making it a quiet retreat above the buzz below. There’s also Valerie, the hotel’s three-level rooftop bar, with sweeping views over Toronto—home to a mix of staycationers, couples, and business professionals. The best part is that making pre- and post-game plans will be effortless if you’re in town to see a match, because the hotel is just minutes away from the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

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For visitors planning a sports-filled weekend in the city, 1 Hotel Toronto offers the perfect balance of calm and accessibility. Located just a short drive from Coca-Cola Coliseum, the hotel feels intentionally removed from the chaos of downtown while still keeping you close to the action. What I’ve always loved most about this spot is the lobby: lush, warm, and grounded in natural wood, with cozy corners for working, lingering over cocktails, or catching up with friends before heading to a game.

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Where to eat

Kiin

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Led by celebrated chef Nuit Regular, Kiin offers one of the most refined Thai dining experiences in the city. Perfect for a celebratory post-game dinner, Kiin feels like having a pretty older sister—polished, composed, and effortlessly put together. It’s soft and earthy inside, with Royal Thai–inspired dishes like Chor Muang (jasmine flower dumplings) and Gaeng Chuchee Tauhu (vegan tofu chuchee curry) that are almost too beautiful to eat. I originally visited six years ago, and I’ve never gotten over how elevated and thoughtful the menu is. I recently took my mom for her birthday, and we opted for the tasting menu—the whole experience felt almost ethereal.

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