New WNBA Team Announces Halftime Performer for First-Ever Game

The Toronto Tempo officially revealed who will take the stage during halftime at the franchise’s first-ever home opener. 

On Instagram, the new WNBA team announced that Congolese-Canadian singer LU KALA will perform during the Friday opening night game presented by CIBC.

The team shared the news with the caption: “Home opener’s pretty girl era loading… 💅 We’re thrilled to announce LU KALA will be performing at halftime on May 8th! Opening Night presented by CIBC.”

The performance adds another major moment to the Tempo’s debut game against the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. The matchup marks the beginning of a new chapter for professional women’s basketball in Canada as the Tempo prepare for their inaugural WNBA season.

LU KALA’s appearance also connects directly to one of her biggest songs. Her viral hit “Pretty Girl Era” became one of her breakthrough tracks and later charted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. The team even referenced the song title in its announcement post.

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LU KALA has quickly become one of Canada’s rising pop stars. Born Lusamba Vanessa Kalala in Congo, she moved to Canada at a young age and grew up in Toronto and Ajax, Ontario. Before becoming a recording artist, she worked behind the scenes as a songwriter and earned credits on songs connected to artists like Jennifer Hudson and Katy Perry.

Her career reached a wider audience in 2023 when she appeared on “Lottery” with rapper Latto. The song entered both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100, helping introduce LU KALA to international listeners.

Since then, the singer has continued building momentum. Her EP, No Tears on This Ride, released in April 2025, included songs such as “Hotter Now” and “Pretty Girl Era.” The project helped push her profile even higher as she launched her own tour and later joined tours with Cyndi Lauper and Aqua.

Beyond music, LU KALA has also spoken openly about mental health, self-worth, and confidence. In a previous interview with Flaunt Magazine, she explained the message behind her work by saying, “It means to see yourself, to value yourself, to love yourself, to be okay with making mistakes and still keep on going.”

The halftime announcement arrives as excitement continues to grow around the Tempo’s first season. Toronto enters the WNBA with a roster that mixes experienced veterans and younger talent.

Among the team’s biggest names are Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey, who are expected to lead the offense during the expansion franchise’s debut season. Veteran Canadian guard Kia Nurse has also become a major fan favorite because of her connection to Canada Basketball.

The roster includes other notable players such as Julie Allemand, Nyara Sabally, Temi Fágbénl and rookie Kiki Rice.

There is also attention around Canadian forward Yvonne Ejim, who is fighting for a spot on the final roster after previously being drafted by the Indiana Fever.

Toronto currently has 16 players under contract, but WNBA teams are limited to 12 active roster spots and two developmental positions during the regular season. Final roster decisions are expected before the opening game.

Now, with LU KALA added to opening night, the organization is blending basketball and music to create a major event for Canadian sports fans.

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