The WNBA will, officially, begin its residency north of the border.
And Canada’s first WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, aims to finish at the northern end of the league standings.
Can the Tempo turn in a successful expansion season? Or, will the team experience some speed bumps as the attempt to keep pace with the W’s best?
Here are three questions about Toronto’s inaugural fate. In the comments, chip in your thoughts about the Tempo.
1. Is Toronto being realistic about their expansion season expectations?
After drafting their expansion roster, when they selected Julie Allemand
with their first pick and chose Marina Mabrey as their unrestricted free agent selection, and subsequently extended her a core qualifying offer, the Tempo signaled an intention to win now.
That was the message conveyed by general manager Monica Wright Rogers, who established winning “immediately” and being this year’s version of the Golden State Valkyries as the goal.
A two-time championship-winning head coach in Sandy Brondello leading a roster of players who have significant experience not only in the WNBA but also in overseas leagues and international competitions is reflective of that goal.
But, is it really realistic?
In her WNBA career, Mabrey has had big moments, but never approached the consistency required to be a primary offensive option. The Tempo stocked their roster with ball handling and size, which is conducive to competence on both ends of the floor, but none of their guards or bigs have demonstrated a level of dynamism that is really going to make opposing teams nervous. Shooting is also a question, as the team’s high-volume shooters haven’t hit 3s at a particularly high clip in the WNBA.
Altogether, the Tempo project to be…decent. They have too much experience to be awful, but it’s hard see them being more than okay. They can fulfill Wright Rogers’ vision of being “a team that is fiercely competitive that plays hard and that plays the right way.” However, elite talent is what wins in the W.
What’s your temperature on the Tempo? Do you see a path to the playoffs as feasible? Could this group come together and be greater than the sum of their parts?
2. Can free agency accelerate the Tempo in Toronto?
A successful free agency period can import the elite talent needed for Toronto to achieve their expectations.
There are a number of conceivable targets for the Tempo, with the Satou Sabally leading to the list of potential targets.
While the Tempo’s decision to select Nyara Sabally with their second expansion draft pick was a bit puzzling, not because her talent but because of her persistent injury issues, maybe the move was made with bigger ambitions in mind? Nyara’s older sister Satou has announced that she will not be returning to the Phoenix Mercury. Might she be interested in playing with her younger sister? A healthy Satou would inspire more confidence in the Tempo roster, as she would slide in as a big scoring forward who could amplify her teammates’ talents.
If not the elder Sabally, could the Tempo pillage the Mercury for another star player? Wright Rogers was an assistant general manager in Phoenix before taking the job in Toronto. Could the relationships she built there encourage Kahleah Copper or Alyssa Thomas, neither of whom were cored by the Mercury, to come to Canada? Additionally, during Copper’s time with the Chicago Sky, Olaf Lange, the husband of Brondello who is a Tempo assistant coach, was an assistant, while Brondello coached DeWanna Bonner, the partner of Thomas, when she was with the Mercury. Brondello also coached Skylar Diggins for a season in Phoenix, and Diggins seems likely to depart the Seattle Storm.
Thomas will be 34 years old before the season begins; Diggins will be 36 years old before the end of the 2026. Although both are still capable of star-level production, it’s unlikely they will be part of a long-term build. But, if the Tempo want to win now and worry about future seasons later, luring the likes Thomas or Diggins to Toronto makes some sense.
What are your thoughts on the Sabally sisters teaming up in Toronto? Is going for an older unrestricted free agent a smart strategy? Who are some under-the-radar free agents that could be great gets for Toronto?
3. Who’s the right draft pick for the 6ix at No. 6?
Before the expansion draft, Eric Nemchock projected Flau’Jae Johnson as the pick for the Tempo in the college draft. Post-expansion draft, the Flau’Jae fit seems prescient.
Especially if Toronto is unable to sign a big-name free agent with offensive star power, this team will desperately need another player who can do things with the ball in her hands. With a proven ability to get to the basket and finish, plus an above-average 3-point stroke, Johnson would introduce both rim pressure and spacing to the Toronto offense. All the while, she has the athletic tools to compete defensively.
If the Tempo want to bolster the frontcourt, Cotie McMahon could be an interesting option. The best version of McMahon resembles a Satou Sabally-like forward, except with a greater willingness to physically power her way to the basket. Entering the W, she also has more experience as a creator for others. And while the No. 6 pick is higher than where she has been projected, as Eric forecasted her at No. 12, McMahon would also embody the hard-playing, competitive mindset desired by the Tempo.
Could you see the Tempo selecting Flau’Jae or Cotie? Is there another prospect that should appeal to Toronto? How much should the team prioritize fit and need when making the pick?
