A tough night all around for the Toronto Tempo. Kelsey Mitchell and the Indiana Fever dismantled the Tempo 113-91, handing them their 3rd straight loss. To make matters worse, star guard Brittney Sykes left the game with a non-contact injury that left fans fearing the worst.
Let’s discuss the good, the bad and the outlook.
The Good
Hopes were high in the first half as the Tempo looked up to the task early on, going basket-for-basket with the Fever. This was largely due to Laura Juškaitė, who matched her career-high with 19 points, including scoring 10 points in two minutes during the second quarter alone. It was a well-rounded performance from the Lithuanian rookie, who also chipped in four assists, two rebounds and three steals on the night.
But Juškaitė wasn’t alone in her efforts. Marina Mabrey recorded 11 points and five assists in the first half – a performance that reminded us that she’s more than just a deep threat. Mabrey found ways to create for herself but also others, finishing with 18 points and 7 assists. This was a strong outing and something we hope Mabrey can continue moving forward with an injury-ridden backcourt.
Entering halftime with only a 3-point deficit felt like a great spot to be for the Tempo. Sykes, Harrison and Condé were all contributing and it seemed we were headed towards a signature Tempo dogfight. This is when we unfortunately moved to the bad.
The Bad
The wheels fell off quickly in the third quarter as Indiana outscored Toronto 32-23. The Tempo struggled to contain the Fever backcourt with Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham who both caught fire to combine for 21 of Indiana’s 32 points in the frame.
But the real dagger came at the 6:46 mark. While driving to the basket, Brittney Sykes dropped to the floor in sudden, visible pain. A collective breath was held across Tempo Nation as “Slim” exited the game with what was immediately deemed a non-contact foot injury.
Sandy Brondello’s face said it all when the camera panned to the Tempo’s head coach with her head in her hands and a worrisome look spread across her face. Thankfully, the post-game diagnosis offered a massive sigh of relief. The latest updates indicate that Sykes has suffered a plantar fascia injury, a relief compared to the devastating Achilles tear that fans initially feared. Toronto expects Sykes back on the hardwood at some point this season but an exact timeline remains up in the air.
While the second half is best left forgotten for Toronto, the final box score highlights glaring issues the Tempo must address. Rebounding remains a massive vulnerability, especially with Nyara Sabally and Kiki Rice out of the lineup. The Fever dominated the glass 47–22.
Furthermore, Toronto continues to struggle against elite playmakers. Much like previous outings against Olivia Miles and Georgia Amoore, the Tempo defense was easily deconstructed by Caitlin Clark, who dished out 14 assists. When the Tempo weren’t letting Clark dictate the floor, they were putting her on the line. Helped by a whistle-happy referee crew, Clark attempted 14 free throws which nearly matched the total amount of free throws awarded to the Tempo on the night.
The Outlook
With a roster that was already facing adversity from a number of injuries this season, the loss of Sykes feels almost insurmountable. For Tempo fans the concern has gone from yellow to red but the show must go on.
Tonight feels like a must win situation for the Toronto Tempo (7-8) as their roadtrip offers them a chance to snap their losing streak against the league-worst Connecticut Sun (2-14). This is their second clash with Connecticut this month, with Toronto stealing an OT win in their last matchup just 9 days ago. However, things change fast in this league and the Tempo will be without their top scorer with Sykes out.
Kiki Rice remains out as she recovers from her ankle injury and Nyara Sabally is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. While Julie Allemand did exit the Fever game with a headache, we expect she’ll be back in tonight’s lineup.
The question on everyone’s mind – can this team continue to compete with only 9-10 players available on any given night? Stay tuned for some thoughts from your Tempo.basketball crew on who front office management might target if a hardship contract is in the works.