If you are a Toronto Tempo fan who is not sure how to feel about the results of the expansion draft, this analysis is for you!
In Short
The Tempo didn’t draft alongside expectations (what do you mean, Portland scooped Bridget Carlton?!). Whereas Portland drafted younger players with potential for upside (i.e. basketball slang for “long-term potential”), Toronto took a page out of Golden State Valkyries’ book and drafted more experienced players who will be ready and able to contribute on day one. They also drafted some players who we see are more high risk, high reward. However, the road to team building has just started. The Tempo will have the rookie draft on April 13 (where they will be able to find youth to balance out their roster), then free agency to shape this inaugural roster. If all players selected from the expansion draft make the team, look for Marina Mabrey to be our number 1 offensive option; Nyara Sabally to show pops of brilliance as our rim protector and pick and roller, and Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa to become unsung fan favourites by the end of the season.
Deep Dive
All in all, the Tempo did not draft alongside expectations. They didn’t go with the Canadian sentimental story and draft a bunch of Canadian players. They didn’t draft a bunch of Australian players to reunite them with coach Sandy Brondello. They also didn’t draft young upside players, which was the strategy that Portland actually took (and admittedly, the direction we had hoped the Tempo would take in our mock draft). Instead, Toronto took a page out of Golden States’ book and drafted more experienced players who can contribute on day one.
Take Mabrey, for example. Most fans were devastated (including us) that Bridget Carleton got scooped by Portland, but comparing them side-by-side, Mabrey is a superior talent who has performed like a borderline all-star, while Carleton has been considered a high-level starter in the W. Portland selected Carla Leite who just came off her rookie year showing flashes of brilliance with her passing and footwork. The Tempo selected Nyara Sabally who – when healthy – swung championship games two seasons ago for the New York Liberty.
The Tempo opted to select players to create a competent and competitive team in their first season.
The one pick we do have questions about is picking Julie Allemand as the first pick. As Monica Wright Rogers said, “The biggest thing about (Allemand) was just her ability to control the tempo and be a facilitator and a floor general. With a head coach like Sandy Brondello, I think there was no doubt that if a player like that was available to us, that duo would put our offence in great hands.”
This pick – and Monica’s quote – could signal to fans that the “tempo” for Toronto is going to be steady, methodical, and patient rather than an uptempo bombastic banger. Let’s see whether this was ultimately the right choice.
Quick Take on Each New Toronto Tempo
Julie Allemand – Allemand is a steady floor general. She is not flashy, but also not turnover prone. The great Sabreena Merchant summarized her role on the Tempo perfectly, “Allemand’s table-setting will also allow the Tempo to better evaluate the players around her.”
Marina Mabrey – Mabrey is a bonafide shot taker and maker who has the highest floor of all picks during the draft. She has been a borderline all star, but can also be a messy player (this actually happens A LOT. She is infamous for her crash outs). The other downside? She is prone to getting tunnel vision and forgetting to pass. There is a future where Tempo fans lose patience for Mabrey. Ultimately, she is very much a high risk, high reward player.
Nyara Sabally – Two seasons ago, Sabally showed signs of being an elite rim protector on defence and a high energy rim runner on offence. She was key in turning around the deciding game for the New York Liberty to become the 2024 WNBA champions. Unfortunately, Sabally was mostly injured last season and she has struggled to stay healthy throughout her career. The Tempo are taking a risk here and, if it pays off, we can see a pick-and-roll game between Allemand and Sabally as being potentially a go-to move for the Tempo.
Aaliyah Nye – Nye is one of the few young upside made picks by the Tempo. As a rookie last season, she was billed as a sniper from the 3-point line and showed some signs of being that for the Aces. We are surprised Vegas didn’t protect her. If she becomes that reliable 3-point shooter, this is an excellent pick.
Lexi Held – Held was one of those unknown players who came into Phoenix last season and made a consistent impact for a team who made it to the WNBA finals. Held is an off-ball guard who can pass and create for herself on offence, and is a feisty defender on the other side of the court.
Maria Conde – While Conde is not the most well known amongst WNBA fans, after the expansion draft, Eli Horowitz – Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Tempo – stated, “Maria Conde was really a target for us. We believe she’s one of the best players in all of Europe who’s never been in the WNBA.” This is very high praise and we will be looking forward to seeing more from her hopefully this season.
Maria Kliundikova – Kliundikova stepped into a bigger role for the Minnesota Lynx last season after Napheesa Collier was injured and she not only played huge crunch time minutes in big time games for a stacked Lynx squad, she was also not afraid to take big shots when she was on the floor during those games. She might be what Bill Simmons likes to call, the “irrational confident” player.
Adja Kane – Kane is a younger player from France who we are not sure will be coming over to the W this season, or if this was a “stash” pick by the Tempo. Regardless, she was initially drafted by New York, so you can assume Coach Sandy Brondello knows what the Tempo will be getting by selecting Kane.
Nikolina Milic – Similar to Conde, Milic is an experienced player with lots of international experience and not a lot of WNBA experience. We will have to see if she makes her way to the WNBA this season or if she continues to play overseas with her rights reserved by the Tempo.
Kitija Laksa – Laksa is a smart, unflappable, and well rounded player who has good size and makes an impact on both sides of the court. She could end up becoming a fan favourite for Tempo fans, especially the sickos.
Kristy Wallace – Wallace is a feisty guard and a tenacious defender. She also has lots of experience overseas and can provide stability on the bench.
Atlanta Dream
Chicago Sky
Connecticut Sun
Dallas Wings
Golden State Valkyries
Indiana Fever
Las Vegas Aces
LA Sparks
Minnesota Lynx
New York Liberty
Phoenix Mercury
Seattle Storm
Washington Mystics
