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  • Tempo vs Sun Game Report, September 24,2026

    Tempo vs Sun Game Report, September 24,2026

    The Toronto Tempo may have lost their final game to the Connecticut Sun 95 – 81, but they may have won in the long run as they now co-own the best lottery odds in the 2027 WNBA Draft. 

    We break down the good, bad, and outlook from this game.

    The Good

    In many ways, this game was a poetic end to the season. For the Toronto Tempo, this game might be the end of their season but this is very much just the beginning for this franchise. For Connecticut, on the other hand, this was the final game in the Mohegan Sun Arena and it is sad to see the first tribal-owned professional sports franchise based in a small market be moved to another big market. 

    Coming into this game, some Tempo fans also cleverly coined it the Juju bowl. To recap this game’s lottery implications: a Tempo win would have solidified the second-best lottery odds in the 2027 WNBA Draft. A Sun win meant the Tempo will share the best lottery odds with the Sun. 

    Right from the jump, both teams understood the brief and rested most of their key players. With the understanding that we were never going to be treated to the highest level of competitive basketball, the good from this game comes from the little moments. 

    We saw Teonni Key have some really good defensive moments and Zaay Green highlights capped off the first AND third quarters. Meanwhile, Isabelle Harrison found lots of success with the pick-and-roll.

    However, the star of this game for the Tempo was Kiki Rice. Rice once again showcased how unstoppable she is at driving to the basket with her unique combination of speed, force, and strength. She also showed off her post moves, made long-range shots, and she finished off the final game of her rookie season by setting a new career high of 28 points. In hindsight, getting Rice with the sixth overall pick was an absolute heist. We can’t wait to see how her game develops next season. 

    The Bad

    The same issues that have plagued the team all season long reared its head one last time this season. Simply put, the Sun dominated the paint, outscoring the Tempo 54 – 38. In the first half, Aaliyah Edwards muscled her way for offensive rebounds, layups, and trips to the free throw line. 

    In the third, the Sun made a consolidated effort to dump it into the post and find the mismatch. Reegan Beers put on a masterclass of how a pure centre can help your team and why the Tempo sorely needed one this season. 

    The Tempo’s offense was not clicking consistently this game either. They struggled from the 3-point line, shooting just 17% from 3, and made numerous careless initial passes leading to Sun run outs. As a team, the Tempo tallied up just 13 assists and the offensive flow looked quite disjointed, especially in the second half. 

    The Outlook

    And yet, all of that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that the Tempo now share the best lottery odds for the number 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft with the Connecticut Sun. While it is not guaranteed that Juju Watkins declares for the draft, these odds give Toronto plenty of hope for their short-term and long-term future. 

    The Tempo will now brace for a very interesting offseason. The inaugural season saw plenty of highs and lows, and it also raised a lot of questions about roster construction and style of play moving forward. How they address those questions this offseason will be fascinating and exciting. One thing is for certain, however. We have no doubts that the Toronto Tempo will come back stronger and (hopefully) healthier next season. 

  • Tempo vs Sky Game Report – September 22, 2026

    Tempo vs Sky Game Report – September 22, 2026

    The Toronto Tempo fell 97-85 to the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night, extending their losing streak to seven games with only one game left in their inaugural season.

    Toronto kept things close through the first half, heading into halftime tied 44-44, before another third-quarter meltdown completely changed the game.

    Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the outlook.

    The Good

    Laura Juškaitė and Isabelle Harrison both stepped up offensively, scoring 20+ points each.

    Harrison finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds for another double-double, with an impressive 17 of those points coming in the first half.

    Laura had 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc — on her birthday no less! She also added four assists and four steals. She just looks more comfortable out there every game, and continues to be one of my favourite stories from this inaugural season.

    And a quick shoutout to Julie Allemand, who quietly hit a pretty impressive milestone in this game. Her five assists against Chicago brought her to 171 on the season, setting a new single-season career high. Her previous best was 170 with the Sparks last year. Julie doesn’t always put up the flashiest numbers, but her ability to run the offence and get everyone involved has been huge for the Tempo all season.

    The Tempo as a whole shot a pretty wild 50% from three, going 13-of-26. Everything happening closer to the basket was a different story.

    Even after falling behind by as much as 22, Toronto didn’t give up. They won the fourth quarter 30-25 and closed the game on a 12-2 run.

    The Bad

    Ah yes, the third quarter. Our old friend.

    After heading into halftime tied at 44, Toronto was outscored 28-11 in the third. Chicago went on a 16-0 run during the quarter and suddenly what had been a very competitive game was basically out of reach.

    Turnovers certainly didn’t help. Toronto finished with 18, leading to 24 points for Chicago.

    The Sky also absolutely dominated inside, outscoring Toronto 54-28 in the paint. Toronto actually won the rebounding battle 40-35, but Chicago shot 52% overall compared to Toronto’s 39%.

    Harrison was fantastic in the first half, but after scoring 17 before halftime she managed only four points the rest of the way.

    Nyara Sabally also didn’t see the floor again, which continues to be a little strange after watching her play for Germany throughout the FIBA World Cup. She had been dealing with a calf injury before the break, so my assumption is that the Tempo simply don’t see much benefit in risking another injury this late in the season. But without anything official from the team, that’s just speculation.

    The Outlook

    And now things get weird.

    Toronto closes out its inaugural season on Thursday against the Connecticut Sun in what might be one of the strangest games of the WNBA season.

    Both teams are at the bottom of the draft lottery standings, and the outcome has some pretty significant implications. If Toronto loses, both teams will finish 11-33 and are expected to have equal lottery balls for the top draft position. If Toronto wins, Connecticut stays ahead of them in the lottery order.

    With JuJu Watkins widely projected as the top prospect in the 2027 WNBA Draft (assuming she enters) you can probably see where the tanking conversation comes from.

    But there’s another layer.

    Thursday will be the final game for the Connecticut Sun before the franchise relocates to Houston and becomes the Comets next season. It’s hard to imagine the players not wanting to send the Connecticut fans home with one final win.

    And based on what we’ve watched from Toronto all season, it’s equally hard to imagine this team intentionally rolling over for better draft odds.

    So… I guess we’re cheering for a competitive loss?

  • Tempo vs Aces Game Report – August 28, 2026

    Tempo vs Aces Game Report – August 28, 2026

    The Toronto Tempo could not find a way to stop the stellar play of A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young, and the Las Vegas Aces went on to easily beat the Tempo, 93 – 73. 

    We break down the good, bad, and outlook from this game.

    The Good

    Though a win tonight was always going to be far-fetched, there was still lots to look forward to. Could Kiki Rice keep up her stellar play after reaching a new career-high in points in the Tempo’s last game? Also, this game saw a classic “who wore it better” situation between Izzy Harrison and A’ja Wilson. Call me crazy but I think Izzy wears the one leg sleeve, one arm sleeve and the headband combo every bit as well as A’ja does.

    With the Tempo still very plagued with injuries and completely out of the playoff picture, the goal of these remaining games is to evaluate the players on the floor and what they can showcase with more opportunity.

    With that in mind, we have to give a big shout out to Laura Juškaitė. Juškaitėcontinues to show her knack for doing little things that make her valuable to the team. It might be a small cut to the basket here, or a hustle play there. Simply put, Juškaitė combines the elements of being a “glue” player with high basketball intellect, patience, and creativity. 

    The Tempo also had a solid contribution from newcomer, Kiana Williams. While she certainly looked like she was at her first day of work during the Tempo’s last game against Seattle, she looked a lot more poised this game and hit some much-needed 3’s and layups. Izzy Harrison also continued to rebound from a tough stretch earlier in the month and had another solid game.

    The Bad

    Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat when watching greatness. A’ja Wilson was simply unstoppable this game, scoring 27 points and putting on a clinic with her array of buttery mid-range shots and low post strength. 

    But, what was even more impressive was her defensive presence in the paint. Wilson blocked, deflected, and changed the timing and rhythm of the Tempo’s shots in the paint. 

    Meanwhile, Jackie Young was hitting shots with Ornella Bankole’s hand in her face. Chelsea Gray was passing between her own legs, and the Aces’ bench players contributed well by excelling within their roles. 

    Even when the Tempo went on a small run in the third quarter, once the Aces ratcheted their defensive tenacity, the game was pretty much over by the end of the third quarter. 

    The Outlook

    Echoed in our last game report, the Tempo now only have five games left on their schedule and it is hard not to think about the odds for the upcoming WNBA lottery draft. As an update, the Tempo continue to have the second-best lottery odds to land the number one pick and it is a tight race with Connecticut for the best odds.  

    The Tempo next travel to Phoenix on the second night of a back-to-back before the WNBA breaks for the next two weeks during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Phoenix has been struggling mightily as of late, having lost seven of their last eight games. They will also be without Kelsey Plum and potentially Kahleah Copper. Nonetheless, they will be sure to look at this game as one where they are favourited to win.

  • Tempo vs Storm Game Report – August 26, 2026

    Tempo vs Storm Game Report – August 26, 2026

    Down four key players and on the road, the Toronto Tempo had one of their ugliest offensive games of the season and fell to the Seattle Storm 90 – 78. 

    We break down the good, bad, and outlook from this game.

    The Good

    With Brittney Sykes, Marina Mabrey, Nyara Sabally, and Aneesah Morrow all out with injuries, Tempo fans were treated to seeing what a Tempo team led by Kiki Rice could look like. While she started off slow, Rice showed off her bag and exploded for 10 points in the second quarter. In addition to putting on a show with her strength and footwork during her drives to the basket, Rice also hit a big 3 and got to the line. At one point, Rice finished over three Storm defenders for a layup. 

    Rice finished the night with a career-high 24 points and shot an efficient 6 of 12 from the field.

    With the Tempo already eliminated from playoff consideration, the focus will be on the future for these remaining games. If tonight’s game was any indication, Rice already has the ability to create her own shot, undying hustle, and energetic defense. The sky is the limit for her.

    We also have to give a shout out to Isabelle Harrison. Over the entire game, Izzy stayed aggressive and looked for her shot when others were more timid. In the first half, Izzy’s combination of pick-and-roll and low post game found success. She also made a concerted effort to crash the glass which gave the Tempo life and energy when the game was still within reach.

    Unfortunately, the Seattle bigs improved on their defensive paint presence and Izzy did not find the same success in the second half, but it was nonetheless a good effort from Izzy. 

    The Bad

    Admittedly, besides some highlight-worthy plays from Rice and Izzy, this was an ugly offensive game from the Tempo. Overall, they only shot 37% from the field and 15% from the 3-point line. Although the Storm didn’t shoot the ball well either early on but the difference came as the game went along. The Storm played more cohesive and knew what butters and what doesn’t butter their offensive bread. 

    The Tempo, on the other hand, got into trouble when individual players were too impatient, or tried to make heroic plays on their own. On numerous times, this led to turnovers and easy Storm transition points. The Tempo also got into trouble when their offense stagnated and they settled for contested three-point shots.

    Tonight, the Tempo’s bench was noticeably shaky. Every time the Tempo ran a bench lineup of Teonni Key, Kia Nurse, Ornella Bankole, and Kiana Williams with one of our starters, the Tempo immediately lost momentum and the Storm would regain control of the game. Meanwhile, the Storm’s bench contributed 30 points compared to the Tempo bench’s 11 points. 

    With the Tempo’s ongoing injuries, we probably should have seen this coming. Williams, as an example, was only signed one day before this game and this was the first time this lineup has played together. It is just another example of the Tempo’s injury-plague season continuing to haunt this team. 

    Outlook

    With only six games left on the schedule, it is hard not to think about next season and, more importantly, the odds for the upcoming WNBA draft lottery. The Tempo currently have the second best lottery odds to land the number one pick in the draft who will undoubtedly be Juju Watkins – an absolutely generational talent who can change a franchise’s future. Even if the Tempo do not land the number one pick, the other two players slated to be selected next are Madison Booker and Hannah Hidalgo who would also be big gets for this Tempo team.

    With Sykes and Morrow being out for the season and no signs of Mabrey and Sabally returning anytime soon, Tempo fans might not have to decide whether they should cheer for the Tempo to tank or not. If the Tempo can’t beat last-place Seattle, this team may just have sealed its fate. The opportunity to add a Juju Watkins to this team, however, gives us hope for the future.  

    In the meantime, the Tempo will travel to Las Vegas to play the Aces. A win is unlikely, but it’s still worthwhile watching players like Kiki Rice get ample opportunities to showcase their talents, while other players, such as Teonni Key, will have opportunities to show us something more from their game. 

  • Tempo vs Fire Game Report – August 21, 2026

    Tempo vs Fire Game Report – August 21, 2026

    Feature Image Photo c/o Matthew Lensen

    The Toronto Tempo finally put an end to their 12-game losing streak on Friday, beating the Portland Fire 82-79 in an absolute nail-biter in Vancouver.

    We break down the good, bad, and outlook from this game.

    The Good

    Losing streak is over!

    And this one definitely wasn’t easy. Portland came out firing and built a 13-point lead in the first quarter, but Toronto slowly clawed their way back, tying the game 44-44 before halftime.

    Isabelle Harrison had a monster game, finishing with a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double. She also came up huge when it mattered, hitting a floater to give Toronto the lead with less than two minutes remaining before knocking down two free throws to help seal the win.

    Kiki Rice continued her strong play as well, tying her career high with 19 points while shooting an incredibly efficient 7-of-9 from the field. Harrison, Rice, and Laura Juskaite combined for 59 of Toronto’s 82 points.

    And Canada showed up. The 12,414 fans at Rogers Arena were loud, especially down the stretch. Sandy Brondello said “We felt the support. When we made big plays it was hard for me even to talk in some of the time-outs there.”

    The Bad

    Just when it felt like the team was healing and some of the injuries subsided, both Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow had to leave the game.

    A minute and a half into the game, Sykes took an awkward step and appeared to re-injure her left foot. She looked frustrated and could be seen kicking the wall on the way back to the locker room. Early In the second quarter, Morrow went down with a left knee injury and had to be helped off the court. Neither player returned.

    Toronto was already without Marina Mabrey, Nyara Sabally, and Marina Conde, meaning the Tempo somehow finished this game missing five key players.

    The Outlook

    It’s hard to know why the Tempo have been so injury-prone this season. Sometimes it’s just bad luck, but with nine players from the inaugural roster missing multiple games this season, it’s clear something the organization will want look at closely.

    Pulling off a W with so many players out says a lot about the tenacity, drive, and grit of the team. The bench stepped up, the remaining starters took on bigger roles, and somehow they got it done.

    Next up is a huge challenge; Las Vegas Aces on Sunday in Vancouver. The Aces are 25-13, have already secured a playoff spot, and beat Toronto 109-83 in their first meeting this season.

    Toronto will once again be seriously shorthanded, with Sykes, Morrow, Mabrey, Conde, and Sabally all ruled out. But after Friday night, it’s hard to completely count them out.

    With another loud Vancouver crowd behind them and the losing streak finally in the rear-view mirror, maybe the Tempo have one more upset in them.

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