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The Toronto Tempo have moved from concept to reality in rapid fashion.
In less than two years since CBC Sports first announced that the WNBA was coming to Toronto, and just weeks after the league and players finalized a new collective bargaining agreement, the Tempo have transformed from an idea into a fully formed team.
Monday’s WNBA draft in New York City marked a major milestone as the Tempo selected UCLA’s Kiki Rice with the sixth overall pick. This came alongside signing their first free agent and bringing in Canada’s Kia Nurse as the team’s inaugural Canadian star. On Tuesday, the franchise unveiled its home court at Coca-Cola Coliseum, introduced its dance team, and hosted an event featuring president Teresa Resch, general manager Monica Wright Rogers, and head coach Sandy Brondello.
Wright Rogers emphasized the excitement surrounding Toronto’s first season. “They want to be here. They can’t wait to be here. As we’re talking to them, as we’re texting them and they’re preparing to arrive, they’re nipping at the bud to touch down in Toronto,” she said. “Once you get on that court, you’ll really feel that excitement shine through, especially in games.”
The atmosphere was electric during Tuesday’s event, which drew enthusiastic fans eager to embrace professional women’s basketball in Canada. Nurse, hailing from Hamilton, Ont., received the loudest applause after officially signing as the team’s first Canadian player earlier in the day. Tempo principal owner Masai Ujiri mingled with attendees, taking photos and shaking hands.
“We really have to protect it and cherish it and not rush through it and allow everyone to kind of process through just how special this time is and the experiences for each player,” Wright Rogers added.
While embracing the moment, the Tempo also focused on building a competitive roster. Unlike some other expansion teams that are eyeing the future, Toronto selected players ready to contribute immediately. Rice, described by Wright Rogers as “pro ready,” fits seamlessly into the Tempo’s established backcourt with her ball handling, perimeter defense, and improved shooting late in her college career.
Second-round pick Teonni Key is expected to provide frontcourt depth alongside core player Marina Mabrey, who is noted as one of the WNBA’s first $1-million players. Free agents Brittney Sykes and Temi Fágnbélé, who brings expansion experience from last season’s Golden State Valkyries and reportedly earned a $1 million deal, round out the roster.
Wright Rogers praised the team’s swift and deliberate approach to assembling the roster during a condensed off-season. “We had the luxury of being an expansion team. The preparation was just exhaustive,” she said. “We were OK making quick decisions and being gunslingers in certain situations.”
Head coach Sandy Brondello, who brings a pace-and-space style, hopes the players will shape the team’s culture on the court. Nyara Sabally, expected to start at centre, previously played under Brondello with the New York Liberty and will be key to implementing that system.
Nurse may no longer be the same player she was during her 2019 all-star season, but her presence on the roster is priceless for both the team and Canadian fans. While she kept a low profile during Tuesday’s event, simply making a heart with her fingers when the cameras found her, the crowd responded with a thunderous cheer.
If everything goes as planned, the Toronto Tempo will provide many more unforgettable moments this summer as they launch their inaugural WNBA season.
