Inside a sold-out Scotiabank arena, the Toronto Tempo fought hard and had chances but ultimately were unable to upset the red-hot Indiana Fever, losing 101 – 95.
We break down the good, bad, and outlook from this game.
The Good
The lead-up to this game was full of hype as 19,300 showed up and showed out at a sold-out Scotiabank Arena and we received announcements that the game would feature the unveiling of the Tempo’s mascot mascots (welcome Dez and Dot!), and the return of Brittney ‘Slim’ Sykes.
And, it did not take long for Slim to make an impact on this game. Despite being out for over two months, Slim quickly showcased the same speed and nimbleness on her drives, and reminded everyone why she is integral to this team’s success. While she may not have had her most efficient game, this is typical for players coming back from injury (recall that Kiki also didn’t shoot the ball successfully on her first game back). What Slim did do was contribute 15 points by driving, getting to the line, and hitting a few jumpers along the way. This contribution has been sorely missed. Welcome back Slim!
We also have to give a big shout out to the Tempo’s bench, including Aneesah Morrow and Temi Fágbénlé. By the second quarter, it became apparent that this game was going to be a shootout and played at a phrenetic pace. Against the leagues’ top offensive team, the Tempo needed all the offensive production they could muster and these two stepped up huge.
At one point in the 3rd quarter, Aneesah Morrow grabbed three offensive rebounds, leading to one Kia Nurse three and a putback with an and-one – all within the span of a minute. She ended the game with 14 points and 16 rebounds, of which seven were offensive rebounds. Simply huge.
Meanwhile, Temi went three for three from the 3-point line and contributed 13 points. Even more importantly, she moved with more agility on defense than past games. There were numerous plays where our perimeter defenders were beat on the dribble, but were helped by Temi to protect the rim and caused the Fever players to miss their shots.
Finally, we have to give the biggest shout out to the Tempo fans. As it has been a trend all season long, the Tempo fans continue to turn heads around the league for showing up and showing out for the Tempo. Both Caitlin Clark and Holly Rowe were very complimentary about the fanbase, the city, and the electric atmosphere within the arena. We couldn’t be more excited by how normal it already feels to have the Tempo be part of the city and country!
The Bad
For Canadian fans who have been itching to see Eastern Conference player of the week, Caitlin Clark, alongside Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and the Indiana Fever, you got your money’s worth. The Fever’s big 3 shone brightly tonight, especially Kelsey Mitchell.
Simply put, Mitchell was unstoppable. She delivered a masterclass in showcasing her talent. We were dazzled by the speed at which she was able to drive to the basket, paired with her ability to change angles on a dime and finishing at the rim. She also shot the ball from anywhere effortlessly and finished the game with 29 points on an efficient 11 of 16 shooting. Had she not left the game in the fourth quarter, we imagine that the score would not have been as close.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark seemed to have a responding 3-pointer for every 3-pointer the Tempo were able to make and her footwork on the perimeter to get open for 3 despite multiple defenders is elite (though we have to shout out the Tempo defenders for turning her over seven times!). To round out the big 3, Aliyah Boston ruled the paint. Her strength and footwork in the low post put the Tempo defenders on their heels all night long.
On the Tempo side, the strategy was clear. The Fever are last in the league in allowing points in the paint, so the Tempo made a more concerted effort to attack inside. Unfortunately, they were largely unsuccessful with that strategy. Not getting calls from the referees certainly did not help, nor does the fact that the Tempo are second-last in the league in scoring in the paint. This will be an area to address in the off-season.
Moreover, any attempt at a comeback upset against one of the top teams in the league would’ve required the Tempo to capitalize on all the opportunities they received and they ultimately did not in the fourth quarter. We counted two missed free throws down the stretch, a turnover after the Tempo were gifted an 8-second turnover by Clark, and another turnover by Marina Mabrey with 12 seconds left. Without those errors, the game would have been even closer.
The Outlook
The Tempo now travel to Washington to play the Mystics on the second night of a tough back-to-back. Washington has played exceptional ball this season and has had Toronto’s number, winning all three of their matchups.
While the first two games were close, including one game decided by a Sonia Citron buzzer beater, the last game played was not close. In these games, the Mystics have been able to use their gigantic and extremely skilled frontcourt to out-rebound and out-muscle the Tempo in the paint. The Mystics defenders also play very physical defense on Marina Mabrey in an effort to not let her get going offensively.
Despite tired legs, the Tempo are going to need their entire team to muster up all the energy they can on both ends of the floor if they are going to have a chance at upsetting the Mystics.
