Rising interest, reserves of talent open door to women's pro basketball in Canada

Kayla Alexander's professional basketball career has taken her across the world — just not to Canada.

Future generations may not have that issue.

As professional Canadian women's soccer and hockey leagues appear poised to start up over the next few years, the foundations are being laid for the same in basketball.

Meanwhile, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has mentioned Toronto as a possible expansion city. The league which began play in 1996 is hosting its first game in Canada on Saturday, an exhibition between the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.

Alexander, who spent eight years in the WNBA while also playing overseas in Russia, France, Poland and elsewhere, says there's room for both Canada's own league and a WNBA team.

"Because I'm a dreamer, I'm always like, why do I have to choose?" Alexander, of Milton, Ont., told CBC Sports. "Why can't I do both? Why can't we find a way to make both a possibility for young girls?"

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The six-team Maritime Women's Basketball League recently began its second season. Commissioner Tasia McKenna said the league currently covers player expenses, but she hopes to pay salaries at some point — or become part of a broader organization that does.

"There's a lot of financial logistics that come into play. And I think part of it, the biggest thing for us, is to ensure that, if and when we go in that direction, it can be sustainable over time," McKenna said.

McKenna said two major lessons emerged from the league's inaugural season: volunteers can't be overworked, and fans are worth the investment. In other words, an upfront financial commitment is required to get a league off the ground.

McKenna works as a