Despite a strong start, the Toronto Tempo were not able to keep up with the Atlanta Dream and fell 102 – 77.
We break down the good, bad, and outlook.
The Good
The Tempo started this game like they were shot out of a cannon, displaying great energy on defense and ball movement on offense, and going on an early run. Isabelle Harrison, in particular, had the quarter of her life, and scored 9 points while limiting Angel Reese’s production to going 1 for 6 from the field. Allisha Gray also went 0-2 and Rhyne Howard was the only Dream player who had her shot going. For a hot minute, we thought that we may have caught Atlanta ‘dreaming’ and could run away with this one.
Predictably, the Dream came back in the second. Gray scored 11 points and the Dream flipped an 8 point deficit into an 8 point lead going into the second half.
The Dream did not let up their offensive production in the third quarter. The Tempo tried their best to keep this game within striking distance. However this quarter also saw the turning point of the game.
The Bad
To address it immediately: since minute one of this game, Izzy Harrison and Angel Reese went at each other physically and verbally. In the third quarter, Reese followed by Izzy were assessed delays of game for trying to pry/slap the ball from one another’s hands after plays ended. Had these been called as technicals, we suspect escalation in physicality could have been prevented. Angel also did not get a call when she grabbed a rebound when she was – upon instant replay – clearly well out of bounds, which riled up the crowd and bench at Coca Cola Coliseum.
With 6:05 left and Reese posting Izzy up, Harrison pulled Reese down from behind with both hands and above Reese’s shoulders. Whether or not it was intentional, it was a dangerous play and a flagrant 2 was correctly called.
After Harrison’s ejection, the Tempo tried to keep the score within striking distance after 3 quarters. In the fourth, however, the Dream sealed the victory with the combination of their size advantage, Allisha Gray’s unstoppable shotmaking, and their impeccable ball movement to always find the best shot. Temi Fagbenle, still getting back into game shape from a right shoulder injury, tried her best but Reese was able to get 8 points in the first two minutes in the 4th.
On the defensive side, we have to tip our hats to Atlanta’s defense. We saw Gray give Mabrey very little space to operate during the entire game (going 2 for 11 from the field). Sykes didn’t fare much better going 5 for 12.
We also have to give credit to Atlanta’s role players. Isobel Borlase set a new career high, scoring 17 off the bench, with Te’hina Pao Pao and Jordin Canada also scoring key 3’s in the second half.
And, we have to be realistic. Atlanta has been building a contender team for years. With this calibre of competition, we knew that the Tempo were coming in as underdogs and needed to play a stellar game to win. There were glimpses of that in the early parts of the game, but ultimately the more talented team won.
The Outlook
On Tuesday, the Tempo face the Indiana Fever for the first time. Similar to the Atlanta Dream, the Fever feature a top-calibre center in Aliyah Boston, paired with 2025 all-WNBA first team player, Kelsey Mitchell, and WNBA Eastern Conference player of the week, Caitlin Clark.
The Dream once again exposed how thin the Tempo’s rim protection can be. Aliyah Boston loves to play physical in the low post and will look to expose that again. The Tempo will also have to find a way to slow down Mitchell, one of the fastest players in the W. If the Tempo don’t keep up, Mitchell will run circles around you and dazzle you with sensational drives. Finally, the Tempo can’t let Clark go off from the 3, but even if they take away the 3, her vision and passing will be a handful.
The Tempo will need to take the lessons learned from this game and play a higher level game from start to finish to be able to have a chance to upset the Fever.
