In a hard-fought battle, the Toronto Tempo fell 88-78 to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Sunday night.
Let’s breakdown the good, the bad, and the outlook.
The Good
Go Canada Go!
Vancouver understood the assignment for the second stop of the Tempo’s Cross-Canada Series. A crowd of 15,877 filled the arena to watch Toronto take on the defending champion Aces. And on a night where fans might have braced for a blowout – given a depleted roster facing an elite opponent – the Tempo delivered another relentless effort from start to finish.
Entering with just eight active players, Toronto needed someone to step up off the bench, and a fan favourite delivered. Kia Nurse showed once again that she shines brightest in the spotlight. Checking in early in the first quarter, “The Hamilton Hammer” went to work scoring from all levels and knocking down 4-of-7 from deep on her way to 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Kiki Rice stacked another impressive performance, logging 14 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Night after night, she demonstrates remarkable poise for such a young guard. Her steady control, ability to create her own shot or drive downhill for tough finishes remain vital for this squad. Rice continues to serve as a reassuring reminder of the franchise’s strong foundation.
We also have to give a shout out to two other Tempo players for their impact on this game.
Temi Fágbénlé came out firing with the first two buckets of the game and looked confident taking on A’ja Wilson and NaLyssa Smith inside. Temi is playing her best basketball of the season at at time when Toronto needs it most.
Ornella Bankole also provided a massive spark. While her impact doesn’t fully show on the box score, her defensive pride was unmissable. Bankole picked up full-court to disrupt the Aces’ rhythm, she crashed the glass and fought until the finish, capping her night with a late steal and transition layup.
The Bad
With an already thin rotation, the Tempo took another blow when starting point guard Julie Allemand left midway through the game with a head injury and did not return. It’s hard to believe the bad luck the Tempo have had this season yet they’ve still given Canada an inaugural season to be proud of.
This game followed a familiar script to what we’ve seen before. A valiant fight from a weathered Tempo squad that left its heart on the floor and managed to keep the game within reach all the way to the final horn. However, offensive execution stalled under pressure, leading to 15 turnovers (compared to 10 for Las Vegas). Laura Juškaitė accounted for 7 of those giveaways – likely a byproduct of heavy minutes and shifting positional roles to plug gaps each night. Still, ball security and valuing each possession remains a critical focus for Toronto in close contests.
The Tempo also need more consistent production from Teonni Key. While she has shown flashes of dynamic play, putting together complete, back-to-back performances remains the next step in her development.
With Toronto’s top three scorers (Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes and Nyara Sabally) sidelined, scoring required a committee effort. They managed to do that with five players scoring double digits on the night – Nurse (19), Rice (14), Fagbenle (13), Harrison (12) and Juskaite (11). Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough horsepower to overcome the talents of the Aces and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who dominated with 27 points in 30 minutes, alongside Jackie Young’s 21 points and 5 assists.
(Off the court: Wilson had glowing praise for Vancouver post-game, highlighting the local food scene and waterfront views.)
The Outlook
The West Coast road trip continues as the Tempo head south to face the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, August 26. It’s a prime opportunity to build momentum against a last-place Storm squad (7-31).
Toronto has controlled the season series so far, claiming decisive 21- and 13-point victoria over Seattle – include the franchise’s inaugural victory back on May 13. Though short-handed, historical success against Seattle should give Toronto a welcome confidence boost.
Following Wednesday’s tilt, the Tempo carry on to Las Vegas for a quick rematch with the Aces before the WNBA FIBA International Break (August 31-September 16). The upcoming two-week pause arrives at an ideal team for a roster eager to rest, recover, and gear up for the final stretch of their inaugural season.