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Or sign-in if you have an account.Kiki Rice of the Toronto Tempo dribbles the ball against Noemie Brochant of the Phoenix Mercury. Getty ImagesThe Toronto Tempo are hanging around games, in them for the most part, but the absences from their lineup are becoming progressively more debilitating.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Edmonton Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Edmonton Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIt’s no secret that the Tempo have been without promising young point guard Kiki Rice and heart and soul veteran Brittney Sykes for some time now.Recommended VideosRice, the UCLA standout, has been out since June 7 with a severe (grade 3) ankle injury, while Sykes has been sidelined since June 19 with plantar fasciitis in her left foot.Friday’s 111-92 loss to the Atlanta Dream further underscored the Tempo’s desperate need for the return of these two game changers. Brittney Sykes of the Toronto Tempo. Photo by Michael Reaves /Getty ImagesThat might become even more important if a potential rib injury to centre Nyara Sabally turns out to be as serious as it looked. Sabally, who has also missed time already with neck, hamstring and knee issues, took a hard Angel Reese elbow to her ribs as Reese drove the lane late in the game.Sabally stayed down for quite some time before needing help to leave the court. She went straight back to the locker room and according to head coach Sandy Brondello was not feeling all that great after the game either.X-Rays had not been taken by the time Brondello and the Tempo met with the media, so no one had a clear indication of whether this could be something long term.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Edmonton Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe Tempo can’t afford to lose another key cog like Sabally.While Julie Allemand has stepped right back into the starting point guard role she began the year with as the Tempo’s first-round pick Rice found her footing, the absence of Rice has meant Allemand is playing extremely big minutes with only rookie Tima Pouye behind her.The combination of Rice and Allemand meant that lightning fast pace the Tempo thrive in, never suffered. Lose either one and the pace slackens over the course of the game and the Tempo’s best weapon is somewhat neutralized. Julie Allemand of the Toronto Tempo goes for a layup against the New York Liberty during WNBA game at the Bell Centre in Montreal on July 12, 2026. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty ImagesAnd as harmful as Rice’s loss is to the team, it doesn’t come close to what they lose without Sykes.Marina Mabry has had her moments where she flat out carried this team in Sykes’ absence, but teams now are refusing her the ball with plenty of double coverage forcing anyone else in the Tempo lineup to beat them.Mabry was positively worked over and beaten up in Friday’s loss and while she still managed a solid 26 points on an impressive 7-for-12 shooting night, the effects of the constant pounding she took were evident. We’ll spare that sorry officiating crew any more vitriol. There’s more than enough of that floating around, most of it deserved.But in large part because of all that physical wear and tear Mabry was not at her best defensively, beaten off the dribble far too often or simply unable to get back and prevent what turned out to be numerous run-out offensive opportunities for the Dream.Despite Mabry’s huge offensive contributions, she finished the game minus-19, second worst on the team to Maria Conde who was a minus-22.If Sykes is in the game, teams simply can’t afford the kind of attention the Dream paid to Mabry. And if Sykes is in the game, there’s no way the Dream take the physical liberties with the Tempo that they did Friday night.Post-game Brondello harped on the need for her Tempo to be tougher (and quicker) and Sykes mere presence on the court brings a toughness, not to mention quickness, before the ball is even tipped. Teams know an experienced vet like Sykes is more than capable of matching whatever dirty tactics they try to employ, but that deterrent wasn’t available and the opposition took advantage, aided by an overmatched officials crew. Olivia Chow’s deal for WNBA team: $1 a year for $10 million of land WATCH: WNBA player ejected for throwing shoe at Toronto Tempo star Marina Mabrey Toronto Tempo and Coors Light put a twist on popular arena beer staple The Tempo have the roster to compete in this league with just about anyone when they are healthy. Thanks to advanced international scouting within the organization, they have surrounded talents like Mabry and Sykes and Sabally with a strong international contingent. Players like Lithuania’s Laura Juskaite or Spain’s Conde and certainly Belgian point guard Allemande, who has previous WNBA experience unlike the previous two, have been invaluable for the Tempo helping the team avoid some of the growing pains an otherwise younger, less worldly team would have at this stage in its existence.Injuries though, and injuries to key pieces like Sykes and Rice (and hopefully not Sabally), can throw even a battle hardened team off the rails – and that’s what we are seeing right now.The loss Friday was the Tempo’s sixth in its past seven games.Since Rice went down the team is 4-10. Without Sykes the team is 2-7.Key losses like that are hard to overcome no matter how hard the remainder of the roster is playing and as far as we can tell, no one is questioning effort with this team.Rice is apparently engaging in non-contact involvement in practice already while Sykes is reportedly improving although plantar fasciitis is about as unpredictable as any sports injury that exists.The sooner one and preferably both can return, the sooner this team can get back to giving themselves an honest to goodness chance every time they take the floor.Right now, it hardly seems fair.mganter@postmedia.com Join the Conversation World Columnists Opinion Columnists World This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.