News first broke of a WNBA expansion team coming to Canada almost two years ago to the day. Now, the efforts of Larry Tannenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Group, GM Monica Wright Rogers, coach Sandy Brondello, the rest of the front office and coaching staff, countless others behind the scenes, and ultimately the players, has come to fruition.
The Toronto Tempo made history on Friday, and although they started off their first season with a 68-65 loss to the Washington Mystics, there was plenty to build on as they begin to lay a foundation for the franchise. It was an exhilarating finish in front of a raucous sell-out crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Anticipation is tricky. A moment never unfolds quite like it’s envisioned. Kia Nurse’s triple getting the Tempo on the board in their first preseason game might be the closest it gets. But the Tempo’s first-ever regular-season basket was run of the mill. Brittney Skyes coming off a ball screen and getting a pull-up mid-range jumper to go. But that was the start. The Tempo are in the game now.
They’re done with anticipation. Brondello was done with it before the tip. The team’s been “locked in” on the prize since training camp.
“Oh, let’s play,” Brondello said pregame “Let’s go. I love it, I suppose I’m a bit like a player too. Let’s just get into playing games. I love the grind of the season. There’s a lot. We don’t play until next Wednesday, but then we’re on a road trip. From Wednesday it’s six games in 11 days and travelling to the West Coast.
“Hey, welcome to the WNBA moment. But I enjoy that. Especially when you win, it’s great, but when you lose, you get an opportunity to get straight back on the court and to get better.”
Friday’s franchise-opening loss checked both boxes. There were moments of greatness and plenty to improve on.
The Tempo were active on defence, but at times it verged on a scramble as they weren’t quite on a string yet. More hanging on by a thread. Offensively they stayed in motion, swinging the ball around the perimeter and setting plenty of screens but they missed most of the shots that materialized, 4-of-14 shooting in the first quarter and 1-of-6 from 3.
Julie Allemand sprinted back in transition and picked the ball from behind to prevent an easy bucket. The effort was there.
Maria Conde and Allemand miscommunicated on a cut, nearly turning the ball over, but it eventually worked back around to Allemand after they recovered and she splashed an above the break 3. The effort started to pay off.
Still they were a touch off beat to start. Understandable for a brand new group.
Marina Mabrey drew two fouls, first on a deep three and later on a drive downhill. Slim wasn’t playing slim, going hard to the hoop for a finish through multiple defenders.
We weren’t passed the five minute mark of the second quarter before there were seven total fouls in the frame. Brondello has described her players as “tough-minded” ad nauseam and they were quick to prove her right.
It was a slog through the first half, 37-30 for the Mystics, but that’s only right. Starting something new isn’t supposed to be easy. Mabrey was the Tempo’s leading scorer at half on 1-of-8 from the field and 8-of-8 from the line. That’s the kind of game it was.
The shooting variance immediately started to come around for Mabrey to start the second half as she canned a pull-up triple, then another tough step-back. Sykes knifed into the lane for an off-balance scoop finish. The W’s first million-dollar backcourt started playing like it.
But tough pull-up shot making from leading Mystic’s scorers Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin swiftly put the Tempo back at arms reach.
Slim pushed off her own board, hit an in-and-out dribble in the lane and finished with her off hand for an and-1. Her free throw cut the lead to four, where it stayed entering the fourth.
It was a couple minutes before points were on the board in the fourth quarter, and the Tempo had to fight for them. A couple recovered balls before Laura Juskaite deposited her second attempt through the rim. But they didn’t score again for another three minutes. Once again it was pushing through contact for fouls that kept it close, cutting the score down to one.
Mabrey’s shot making was the Tempo’s rising tide in this game. She stuck yet another tough second-half 3 to put them up one, send the crowd into a frenzy and forcing a Mystic’s timeout. Let’s go Tempo chants pulsed through the building.
The Mystics snatched the lead back, but a Nyara Sabally steal and run out chipped away again. Slim drew an offensive foul, they went five-out and a Slim flash set up an open Juskaite corner 3. Tie game. The Tempo clawed tooth and nail. A forced loose-ball foul and Mabrey free throws gave them the lead again. But it wasn’t meant to be. Four Austin free throws put the first game on ice.
The Tempo struggled in the fourth quarter of their two preseason games (minus-20). Friday they were plus-1. They’re still learning how to win. Hell they’re still learning a new country. Still learning each other.
That was the Tempo’s first-ever WNBA game at home in Toronto. Lots to be proud of and plenty to work on. Their next opportunity comes on home court Wednesday against the Seattle Storm.