Tempo's inaugural season shows both setbacks and growth

Toronto’s WNBA franchise finished a difficult first season marked by injuries and a 1133 record, but the Tempo also showed signs of longterm promise. Head coach Sandy Brondello said the team had to cope with a heavily depleted roster, including major stretches where key players were unavailable or barely shared the floor together. Despite the losses, the Tempo recorded several notable milestones, including their first win, a 75 start, and Marina Mabrey’s 53point performance that tied the WNBA singlegame scoring record. Mabrey also made the AllStar team, while rookie Kiki Rice earned AP AllRookie Team recognition after a strong debut season. Off the court, the franchise reached important business goals. The team said it drew strong crowds in Toronto and Montreal, sold out every home game at CocaCola Coliseum, and significantly grew its social media and media reach across Canada. Team executives described the season as a success on the commercial side, while also noting that basketball improvement remains the next priority.