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  • Tempo vs Lynx Game Report – July 28, 2026

    Tempo vs Lynx Game Report – July 28, 2026

    In their first game back from the all star break, the Toronto Tempo put on a valiant effort on the road against the Minnesota Lynx. Unfortunately they fell short losing 100 – 93. 

    We break down the Good, Bad, and Outlook from this game.

    The Good

    Raptors’ legendary commentator, Jack Armstrong, regularly says, “They say there is no such thing as a moral victory, but…”. Jack’s saying very much applies to the Tempo in this game. 

    Despite being shorthanded and seemingly out of the game to start the 4th quarter, the Tempo clawed their way back and challenged the best team in the WNBA until the final minute. 

    The most memorable part is that they did it as a team. Throughout the game, multiple players had shining moments. María Conde, for example, got her first career double-double with 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Laura Juškaitė added 18 points and made key baskets and plays when the team was in need. 

    While the numbers don’t jump off the page, Temi Fágbénlé also played what we think was her best game in a Tempo uniform. She exposed her size advantage over Natasha Howard multiple times, made great cuts, and played great help defense on Napheesa Collier. 

    Even though Marina Mabrey did not have her most productive and efficient game, she still scored 24 points and spearheaded the Tempo’s 4th quarter run to cut the deficit down to three with 80 seconds left. 

    We also have to give a shout out to the return of Kiki Rice. No, her shots didn’t fall like she wanted them to. However, this just feels like someone having a case of the “Mondays” after some time away from work. The first email you send is always going to suck. The shots will fall. We were more so impressed by her work ethic and persistence to help the team. 

    As a team, the Tempo played more connected defense for parts of the game (with the first quarter being the best example) and made a more concerted effort to crash the boards on both ends. We were also very impressed by the Tempo’s “no quit” attitude. With a frenetic pace to start the 4th quarter the Tempo players had their hands on their knees and it looked like the wheels were going to fall off and they weren’t going to be able to keep up with the Lynx’s offensive firepower. They immediately responded after a timeout by going on a 9 – 0 run to cut the Lynx lead down to two points, forcing the Lynx starters to work and close this game out. 

    The Bad

    It’s hard not to think that the Tempo was simply “out-talented” by their opponent. The Lynx were amongst the best teams in the W coming into this season. Drafting Olivia Miles who has already made the all-star team in her first season and is considered the runaway rookie of the year hasn’t hurt. Tonight proved once again why she is looking like generational talent. Her creative and ingenious passing is reminiscent of Chelsea Gray; her drives are reminiscent of Kelsey Plum; and she can shoot the 3-ball at a high clip. She will be a nightmare for teams for years to come. Tonight, she scored 24 points and looked simply unstoppable.

    Beyond Miles, the Lynx has one of the best shooters in the game in Kayla McBride who shot 60% from the field and contributed 18 points. The Tempo actually did an admirable job in guarding former MVP, Napheesa Collier, as well as Natasha Howard. However, as a collective, the Lynx simply had too much fire power and their ability to make the next pass to find the player with the most open shot was a marvel to watch. 

    We knew upsetting the Lynx was going to be a tough task, but the loss is especially deflating when the Tempo become victims of their own mistakes. The Tempo turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 16 points for the Lynx. While the discrepancy in points off turnovers was not glaring, the Lynx defenders did an excellent job of applying pressure when the Tempo brought the ball up the court and we counted at least a handful of times where the Tempo tried to make the first pass and it resulting in a run out turnover for the Lynx. Those mistakes were crucial in giving the Lynx the lead in the second quarter and have to be addressed in order for the Tempo to have a chance against these top teams in the league. 

    The Outlook

    The second game in this home-and-home matchup between these two teams takes place on Thursday, July 31. This marks an opportunity for the Tempo to take lessons they learned and immediately apply to see if we can improve from this game. 

    Can the Tempo find a way to limit Miles’ drives to the basket and make things a bit harder for her? Can the team devise better schemes to ensure that our ballhandler is able to escape from the initial defensive pressure and limit our turnovers? Can Chef Mabrey play the way she did late in the 4th for the entire game? Can we get either Sabally or Izzy back to give us even more of a size advantage? Can we repeat the impressive help defense played on Phee and Howard to limit their production again? Can we find a better balance between doubling players in the post and limiting their 3’s so that they don’t shoot 56% from the 3-point line? 

    If we are able to answer some of these tough questions with a yes, the Tempo might just have a chance to upset the Lynx in front of Tempo fans at Scotiabank Arena.

  • Tempo vs Aces Game Report – July 20, 2026

    Tempo vs Aces Game Report – July 20, 2026

    The star-studded Las Vegas Aces handed the Toronto Tempo their third consecutive loss with a high-powered 109–93 victory on Monday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

    A’ja Wilson led the charge for Las Vegas with a dominant 26-point performance, while “silent assassin” Jackie Young delivered a stellar double-double, putting up 24 points and dishing out 12 assists. For Toronto, Isabelle Harrison provided a bright spot in the loss, pacing the Tempo with a career-high 26 points.

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

    The Good

    Taking on the reigning champions for the first time this season was always going to be a tall order, but Toronto held its ground early. Trailing by just six after the opening quarter, the Tempo showed encouraging fight on the boards. With head coach Sandy Brondello serving a one-game league suspension, associate head coach Olaf Lange stepped in as interim head coach and made rebounding an explicit priority.

    His message clearly hit home. Toronto answered the call by out-rebounding the Aces 40–31, generating 21 crucial second-chance points thanks to their relentless energy on the offensive glass. 

    Leading the charge on the boards and in the box score was Isabelle Harrison, who delivered a standout double-double performance featuring a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds. Harrison stepped up with notable confidence, showcasing her evolving skill set taking players off the dribble and playmaking from the top of the key. Most impressively, she met the moment head-on in a marquee battle against 8x All-Star and MVP A’ja Wilson.

    Another performance worth highlighting was Maria Conde, who was an energizer bunny for the Tempo. In her 28 minutes, she was extremely active on both ends of the floor and finished the game with a well-rounded performance contributing 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

    While we’re always Team Tempo, let’s take a moment to worship the Point Gawd herself with this deliciously precise behind-the-back pass. Witnessing greatness is a win for everyone!

    The Bad

    Containing the big three of A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray is tough on a good day and near impossible shorthanded. While Toronto played with plenty of energy, they lacked the execution and defensive communication needed to slow down Las Vegas’ high-powered offense. The Aces dissected the defense with masterclass ball movement, tallying 29 team assists and placing five players in double figures.

    On the offensive end Marina Mabrey had another tough night getting swarmed by the Aces defense, a challenging situation she’s found herself in with opposing teams able to key in on her given the lack of depth in scoring with Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice, and Nyara Sabally all sidelined with injuries. Mabrey chipped in 14 points, though it came on an inefficient 5-of-21 shooting night from the field (1-of-8 from deep).

    On the flip side, Vegas shot the lights out going 58% from the field. As if Wilson wasn’t doing enough damage in the paint, she left no room for a solution going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. 

    Credit goes to the Aces’ transition defense as well. They successfully dragged Toronto into a half-court battle, limiting the Tempo to just three fast-break points on the night.

    The Outlook

    Monday’s matchup marked the finale of a grueling 9-game homestand for the Tempo. This was a historic stretch that saw Toronto host games across three different venues: Coca-Cola Coliseum, Scotiabank Arena, and a historic showcase at Montreal’s Bell Centre, where they set a WNBA regular-season attendance record with 20,996 fans.

    While a 2-7 record during the homestretch wasn’t the exact result Toronto wanted, the marathon run served as a successful showcase of women’s basketball in Canada over the last month. The Tempo showed real competitive grit going toe-to-toe against elite league competition while drawing passionate, record-breaking support from fans across the country.

    The Tempo take to the road to face the Minnesota Lynx next coming off a much-needed All-Star break where most of the team got to rest, relax, and recharge while they cheered on Toronto Tempo’s first-ever WNBA all-star Marina Mabrey in Chicago.

    Not only did Mabrey get to represent Toronto for the first time but she did it with the same flair we know and love, erupting for 17 points in the first 5 minutes and finishing with 23 points and 3 rebounds for Team Coop. On Friday night, she participated in the 3-point contest scoring 18 points in the first round and securing a donation of $6,500 to Black Women’s Institute of Health by partnering with Under Armour – a performance that made Tempo fans proud!

    Let’s hope Mabrey keeps her hot streak going and the Tempo come back from the break healed and re-energized. Rumor has it that Kiki Rice was back at training and Head Coach Brondello, who will be back at the helm, has her listed as questionable for tonight’s game!

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  • 3 Trade Ideas for the Toronto Tempo

    3 Trade Ideas for the Toronto Tempo

    The WNBA trade deadline is fast approaching (August 2, 2026). To be clear, I don’t think the Toronto Tempo are going to make any moves before the trade deadline. But, in the spirit of this trade season, here are 3 mock trades that the Tempo should consider:

    1. Temi Fágbénlé to the Dallas Wings for Alanna Smith

    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo of Temi Fagbenle for Alanna Smith.
    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo of Temi Fagbenle for Alanna Smith.

    Last season Alanna Smith won co-defensive player of the year along with A’ja Wilson. This offseason, Alanna signed a 3-year max contract with the Dallas Wings. While the Wings have improved leaps and bounds, Smith has surprisingly been relegated to a bench role (playing behind Awak Kuier). 

    As a result, she is averaging season lows in minutes played, points, rebounds, and assists. The contrast between her max contract and current role can become quite a conundrum for the Wings. Some have already deemed her contract one of the worst current contracts in the league. From a long-term perspective, keeping Smith might also get in the way of building out this exciting Wings roster, headlined by Paige Bueckers, Jess Sheppard and Azzi Fudd. 

    Temi’s contract is only guaranteed this year. Flipping Smith for Temi would help the Wings to clear this potential salary cap issue well ahead of schedule, while they still retain a quality bench player in Fagbenle for their playoff run this season. 

    For the Tempo, they receive a player that can protect the rim, switch onto perimeter players, and play defense at an elite level. On offense, Smith is efficient near the basket, can space the floor well, and is dangerous from the 3-point line. Smith has also had extensive experience playing for Coach Sandy Brondello for the Australian national team. Her recent struggles in Dallas should not be seen as a reclamation project; rather, an opportunistic home run for the Tempo.

    2. Temi Fágbénlé and the 2028 first round pick to the Washington Mystics for Shakira Austin

    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Washington Mystics and Toronto Tempo of Temi Fagbenle and a 2028 First Round Pick for Shakira Austin.
    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Washington Mystics and Toronto Tempo of Temi Fagbenle and a 2028 First Round Pick for Shakira Austin.

    Remember when the Toronto Tempo tried to sign Shakira Austin to a million-dollar contract this offseason? Since the Mystics matched the Tempo’s offer, one would imagine that door has closed. Or has it?

    The Mystics currently have a log jam in their front court. Austin has been playing like a borderline all-star this season, being a beast in the paint and averaging close to a double-double. Her strengths are clear, but those strengths are also shared by fellow teammates, Kiki Iriafen and Lauren Betts – both who are still on rookie contracts. The Mystics are clearly ahead of schedule with this young team and if this young team continues to ascend, the Mystics might get to a point where they can’t afford all three bigs. 

    This is certainly not a 2026 problem, so it makes any trade interest from Washington unlikely. In the event that there was interest, the Tempo would instantly benefit from acquiring a player who can fill their biggest needs on both defense and offense. Giving up a 2028 first round pick will serve as the tax for getting a player as good as Austin. It’s not an ideal situation, but the Tempo would then have an elite starting center for the next few years. 

    3. Maria Conde to the Dallas Wings for Li Yueru

    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo of Mariea Conde for Li Yueru.
    Screenshot from sportrac.com of Trade between Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo of Mariea Conde for Li Yueru.

    To address their lack of frontcourt size and depth, the Tempo could also aim for a less flashy trade by sending Maria Conde to the Dallas Wings for Li Yueru.

    Conde has played a significant role for the Tempo thus far, but the result have been just ok. There have been bright spots (for a wing, Conde has been averaging an astonishing 4.6 rebounds per game) but also times where we wish she was better in her role (for instance, Conde is only shooting 36% overall and sometimes tries to do too much on the floor). 

    By trading Conde, the Tempo receive a true backup big in Li Yueru. Li’s game has improved year after year. She is a stretch center with a great shooting touch, is a brick wall on defense, and can offer some rim protection and rebounding. In Li, you get a player who can fit into the Tempo’s offensive scheme while also improving their biggest areas of weakness. 

    For Dallas, Conde provides an experienced presence to improve their depth at the wing position, which will be helpful come playoff time. 

    Closing

    Again, I don’t think the Toronto Tempo are actually going to make any trades. Rather, the goal for the rest of the season will be to get as healthy as possible and see what this team at full strength looks like before the front office can decide how to better tweak this roster for the next season. 

  • 5 observations on the Tempo season thus far

    5 observations on the Tempo season thus far

    All star weekend is here! With that, the Toronto Tempo get a much-needed break before we enter into the latter half of this season. Let’s take this moment to reflect on the Tempo’s inaugural season. We offer five observations:

    1. Marina Mabrey was the best pick in the expansion draft

    While Carla Leite might have a chance at being the best expansion pick in a few years, there is no question that the Tempo selected the best player in the expansion draft in Marina Mabrey. Here are just some of Chef Mabrey’s accomplishments this season:

    • Selected as an all-star
    • Tied the WNBA record with 53 points scored in a single game
    • Leads the league in overall 3-pointers made (with 82) and 3-point field goals made per game (with 3.3 per game), shooting the ball pretty efficiently at just under 40%.
    • Ranks fourth amongst players in scoring at 21 points per game. This is a career high for her (she only averaged between 14 to 15 points per game over the past three seasons). 

    Chef Mabrey is accomplishing all this while taking on the responsibility of being a number one option for the first time. Sabreena Merchant further noted, “Mabrey has played the most composed and disciplined basketball of her eight-year career and produced at her highest rate.” 

    Why Connecticut left her unprotected in the draft continues to boggle our minds. Regardless, the Tempo benefitted greatly. 

    Beyond Mabrey, however, looking back at the expansion draft, we have to be honest…in hindsight, it was kind of a let down. After our tally, 60% of the players the Tempo drafted have either been waived or aren’t playing this season because they haven’t come over from overseas. 

    Yes, the 40% remaining (i.e. Julie Allemand, Nyara Sabally, Maria Conde, and Marina Mabrey)  have been significant contributors to the team. However, we can’t help but wonder if the Tempo could have selected Sarah Ashlee Barker (who is averaging career highs and who we had selected in our mock expansion drafts), Emily Engstler (who is averaging career highs for the Fire and would bring the toughness that we lack), or Kaitlyn Chen (who is having a breakout year for the Valkyries). 

    2. The Tempo would be in the playoffs if we had Shakira Austin

    Folks might remember that, during free agency, the Tempo made a big splash by signing Shakira Austin to a max contact. Because of Austin being a restricted free agent, the Washington Mystics could and did match Toronto’s offer to retain Austin, which they did on the day of the rookie draft. The Mystics subsequently drafted Lauren Betts who plays the same position that Austin does. 

    From Washington’s perspective, we get it. It would be a mistake to let a talent like Austin go, especially since she played incredibly well in this past season of Unrivaled where she looked like she was ready to take the next leap as a player. And, this proved to be the right decision. Austin is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists this season, and is nearly averaging a double-double in 14.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. Also, with a frontcourt of Austin, Kiki Irafen, and Lauren Betts, the Mystics is the best rebounding team in the WNBA and amongst the best in defensive rating. 

    And, boy oh boy, could the Tempo benefit from her at the center position.  

    Tempo is bottom three in points in the paint. Austin operates in the paint. Toronto is also bottom three in rebounds. Austin is ranked third in grabbing rebounds. We like Temi Fagbenle and think that, when healthy, she has a lot to offer this team, but Shakira Austin would have been perfect for this team. 

    3. The Toronto Tempo do not feel like an expansion team

    Let’s take this opportunity to give a round of applause to the Tempo and the fans. From setting a new WNBA record for regular season attendance of 20,966 fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal to consistently selling out the Coca Cola Coliseum, Toronto and Canada at large have shown out for the Tempo and people are taking notice. 

    In the Tempo’s most recent game against the Las Vegas Aces, A’ja Wilson had glowing praise for Toronto: 

    In the June 19, 2026 game, I had the pleasure of running into part-owner of the Atlanta Dream and WNBA broadcaster, Renee Montgomery. I said, “We love you, Renee!” In response, she said, “this place is electric. Congratulations to you all.”

    Beyond the court, we have seen notable individuals, including Kyle Lowry and Ayahna Cornish-Lowry, Masai Ujiri, and Serena Williams, amongst many others, join the Tempo ownership group. 

    The Tempo have set themselves up really well for the future. 

    4. We need a defensive identity

    At this halfway mark of the season, we think we have a grasp of the Tempo’s offensive identity: shoot the 3-ball well, find opportunities to get on a fast break, get to the line and shoot free throws well, and trust in Chef Mabrey’s elite shot-making. We have also seen that, when we share and pass the ball well, this team can be pretty dynamic on the offensive end.  

    On the defensive side though, the Tempo have a lot of work to do. 

    We currently rank last in the WNBA in numerous defensive metrics, including points in the paint, offensive rebounds, and defensive rating, and we rank second-last in giving up the most points per game. 

    None of this is surprising. The team has endured an injury-riddled season, especially in our frontcourt and teams have exploited it. 

    Our hope for the remainder of the season is to solve some of those defensive issues, even though we know that solving all of them might be too tall of a task. 

    5. Is being the best of the rest a worthwhile goal for the season? 

    Before the injury to Brittney Sykes, the Toronto Tempo’s record stood at 7 – 7. If we want to go back even further, prior to Kiki Rice’s injury, the Tempo’s record was 5 – 4. 

    Since Slim’s injury, the Tempo have gone 3 – 9. Even more alarmingly, against the upper echelon teams (or teams above 0.500) in the WNBA, the Tempo currently have a record of 1 – 12. To make matters worse, the Tempo have the second toughest remaining schedule amongst all WNBA teams. 

    Inevitably, the question of whether to compete for a playoff spot or tank should be the goal for the remainder of the season. 

    While tanking is alluring, our hope is for the Tempo to be healthy and be able to compete at full strength for at least part of the season. To not be able to see how this team looks at full strength would be a shame to the players, fans, and organization. It also makes it hard to determine how to tweak this team moving forward without that data.

    At this point, everything that has been reported is pointing towards the likelihood that Slim, Rice, and Sabally will return to the court. 

    It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these players return healthy and the Tempo end up punching well above their weight after the all star break and get into the playoffs. 

    If the more likely scenario happens and the Tempo win some more games but don’t make the playoffs, this season has already been a successful inaugural season and the team can build on that success for year two.

    Even if all else fails and the Tempo don’t win as many games as we’d like, we will then still have a high draft pick in next year’s draft. We can have our cake and eat it too. 

  • Tempo vs Dream Game Report – July 17, 2026

    Tempo vs Dream Game Report – July 17, 2026

    The Toronto Tempo continue to struggle against the best teams in the WNBA, falling 111 – 92 to the Atlanta Dream. To make matters worse, it seems like every time the Tempo play the Dream, controversy ensues.

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

    The Good

    Despite the loss, we have to give so much credit to Marina Mabrey. Chef Mabrey bounced back from a cold shooting night against Washington to lead all players with 26 points on an efficient 7 of 12 shooting. Tempo fans are now accustomed to seeing Mabrey dazzle each and every night, but that wasn’t always a given.

    If you haven’t listened to this recent Bird’s Eye View podcast featuring Chef Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, it is a must listen. You will have a better appreciation of how incredibly hard Mabrey has worked to become a reliable number one option for this team. 

    In addition to Mabrey, the Tempo showed once again that when they are at their best, they can run with any team. When the ball is being shared and the extra passes are made, the Tempo play a very pretty brand of basketball that leads to the open 3’s that have become our bread and butter.

    Despite a bad third quarter, we also saw the Tempo fight hard in the first half of the 4th quarter using a quicker pace and a barrage of threes to cut the Dream’s lead from 11 to 6. The team and Coca Cola Coliseum were humming; the Tempo were in the bonus and we thought there may have been a chance for a comeback – then the wheels fell off.

    The Bad

    This game featured the Tempo at their best and their worst.

    Over the course of the season, we have seen the Tempo expose their defenidve Achilles Heels in two main areas: transition defense and protecting the paint. Atlanta took the game over by exploding those areas once again.

    On multiple occasions, when the Tempo tried to set up their offense, they would either be too loose with their initial pass or the Dream would predict the first pass and shoot the gap. This led to 11 steals and 11 fast break points by the Dream (to zero by the Tempo, which stings more because of how good the Tempo are when we are the ones in transition). 

    At one point in the third, Laura Juskaite bobbled then dropped ball. When the Dream defender went on a fast break with the steal, Juskaite didn’t chase back with the intensity needed. On another play in the second half, the Tempo made a basket and immediately, the Dream lobbed the inbounds on a fast break for an easy layup. These points are deflating and the Tempo really need to crank up their defensive intensity to run back on every play.

    We also feel like a broken record at this point, but the Dream outscored the Tempo in the paint, 60-38. Like other losses, the Dream also got 11 offensive rebounds to the Tempo’s four, leading to 15 second chance points (to the Tempo’s 10). Again, stop us if you feel like you have read these types of stats before.

    Finally, we have to address the elephant in the room. 

    Following Nyara Sabally’s injury while defending a drive by Angel Reese, Coach Sandy Brondello complained about the call, calling Reese “a protected species”. The comment understandably drew criticism for racist intent. The following day, Brondello offered an apology to Angel. She has subsequently been suspended for one game by the league.

    While a racist attack on Angel was not likely the Coach’s intent, and would be a far cry from Brondello’s past behavior and reputation, as her apology states, the impact of her remark is what’s most important. 

    We hope that this will serve as an important signal to Coach Sandy and all involved with the league that racist remarks aren’t tolerated from players, fans, coaches and announcers, regardless of intent. There is more interrogation of individual and structural racist realities facing black women in this league to be done. 

    The Outlook

    This game was unfortunately another example of when the Tempo can start games well, show flashes of being able to beat great competition, but ultimately can’t finish. Our hope is for this team to last a little longer and be more consistent. 

    Of course, the fact that injuries continue to plague the team does not help. We hope Sabally will be able to see the court again as soon as possible.

    The July from hell doesn’t get easier for the Tempo, as the defending WNBA champions, Las Vegas Aces, come to town. This will be the first time the Tempo and Canadian fans will see the best player in the league, A’ja Wilson. Wilson, paired with the championship core of Jackie Young and the point gawd, Chelsea Gray, will be ready to put on a show. The Tempo will also be without Coach Sandy Brondello. The Tempo will need to bring their absolute best from the first to the fortieth minute to have a chance at stealing this game.

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