ESPN veteran reporter Holly Rowe couldn’t contain her tears while working as a sideline reporter for the Fever-Tempo game in Toronto Tuesday night.
Taking to her Instagram, Rowe, who’s covered both men’s and women’s sports for three decades at the Worldwide Leader, shared a video of her crying during the pregame introductions at Scotiabank Arena.
“Okay, I’m trying to work a basketball game tonight and I keep crying because look what they built in Canada,” Rowe said before turning the camera to show a packed lower bowl of fans.
She repeatedly said that she was “just really proud” after seeing the turnout in Toronto, one of. the league’s two 2026 expansion teams. The Portland Fire also debuted this year.
“I am trying to work but literally can’t quit crying!!! Growing women’s basketball and the @wnba is a passion in my life,” Rowe captioned her post.
“Seeing this @torontotempo and @indianafever crowd is absolutely precious to me. Thank you amazing fans everywhere. ❤️💜”
Rowe said the game in Toronto had a sold out crowd of “19,300 strong” in an Instagram Story post with ESPN commentator, Rebecca Lobo.
She added that it was the first ever WNBA game she worked with Lobo and ESPN color commentator Ryan Ruocco.
In its 30th year of play, the WNBA now has 15 teams with its 2026 expansions.
The Golden State Valkyries — the newly announced host for the 2027 WNBA All-Star game — were the WNBA’s first expansion in 2025.
The Cleveland Sirens are starting play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.
Rowe covers a variety of sports as a reporter and play-by-play commentaor.
She joined ESPN full time in August 1998 after appearing on select ESPN telecasts in 1997 and ABC Sports in 1995-96.
Rowe won a 2022 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Reporter and earned Emmy nominations in 2023 and 2024.
She was named the 2023 Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award Winner for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
