The Toronto Tempo find themselves back in the loss column after a disastrous first quarter. Despite big efforts from Marina Mabrey and Isabelle Harrison, the Tempo were unable to overcome the deficit and dropped the game 94-87 against the Atlanta Dream.
Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the outlook.
The Good
On paper, winning three out of four quarters is usually enough to secure a victory. However, an 18-point first-quarter deficit proved too massive to overcome, even for a Tempo squad known for its resilient comebacks.
If you look past the opening frame, there were notable positives – like the return of Nyara Sabally to the lineup. This marked just the third game all season where the Tempo have had both Sabally and Harrison active. With Harrison still finding her footing during their brief overlap in early June, this game offered an exciting glimpse at a frontcourt searching for stability and synergy.
While Sabally had a quieter night on the stat sheet, she still anchored the interior with 9 points, 4 blocks, and 4 steals, helping re-establish a physical presence in the paint.
For Harrison, it was a historic performance. She captured the Tempo’s first-ever double-double, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds. We’re loving watching Harrison’s confidence and fierce competitive edge grow with each game. Harrison and Mabrey were critical in leading the Tempo’s fight to climb back into the game.
With Brittney Sykes sidelined, Mabrey is visibly stepping into a primary leadership role. Where other players might panic and force possessions, Mabrey showed excellent patience, letting the game come to her and consistently attacking the rim. Her versatility, combined with her accountability in the post-game press conference, is a fantastic sign for Toronto moving forward.
The Bad
The story of the game was written in the opening chapter. Atlanta delivered a blunt wake-up call, racing out to a 16-5 lead before head coach Sandy Brondello called timeout. From there the team started to settled into the game, but it was too little too late, ending the first quarter down 33-15.
Mabrey summarized the execution lapse perfectly post-game:
“We didn’t execute our game plan whatsoever. If you’re going to do that against a team like Atlanta you’re going to get beat pretty badly. Honestly, we didn’t get beat that badly because we won the last 3 quarters but it’s disappointing to play like that because you work so hard those next 3 quarters to try to come back and then you’re going to come up short.”
While Toronto’s frontcourt showed offensive flashes, they struggled to contain Atlanta’s powerhouse trio of Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Madina Okot, who combined for 49 points.
Beyond Mabrey, the backcourt continues to struggle offensively. With Kiki Rice and Brittney Sykes out, the Tempo haven’t found a consistent second scorer to rely on. Julie Allemand, Tima Pouye and Kia Nurse are reliable role players but may not have the prowess the Tempo need to fill the void.
The Outlook
The Tempo have developed a bad habit of starting slow and spending the rest of the game playing catch-up. With an already intense schedule and a short bench, the Tempo need to find a way to start the game with authority to avoid furthering their visible fatigue and to dictate play from the first whistle.
We love the accountability from Mabrey after the game, calling out herself and the team to address this:
“Personally as one of the leaders I need to find a way to help us come out ready to play. And also, everyone else in that starting lineup. They gotta come out and be ready to play. That’s all there is to it.
Toronto has an immediate opportunity to course-correct tonight against a Los Angeles Sparks team missing star player Kelsey Plum (out at least four weeks with a lower left leg injury).
With a brutal July stretch looming – where eight of the next nine games are against teams above .500 – these next few matchups are near-mandatory wins for the Tempo.
The Sparks will also be without Cameron Brink tonight due to a left ankle sprain. On the Tempo side, Rice and Sykes remain ruled out for their 8th and 3rd consecutive games, respectively.