Brittney Sykes is through pretending, through preparing, and can't wait for the real thing. That's how a veteran of nine opening days in the WNBA is feeling with regular season basketball just around the corner. You can only imagine the level of anticipation in a long-suffering Toronto WNBA fan who has been waiting for an opening day in their city for the entirety of their adult lives. Both will get their wish on Friday as the Women's National Basketball Association debuts for real at Coca-Cola Coliseum when the WNBA's 14th team, the Toronto Tempo, tips off the WNBA season with their first of 44 games, this one against the Washington Mystics.
Win-Now Philosophy
The Tempo, despite their expansion status, are giving clear indications that they are in a win-now phase. In Marina Mabrey, they signed the first ever $1-million player in the WNBA. They followed that up with two more in backcourt partner Sykes and five-year veteran Temi Fagbenle. Together, that trio accounts for over 45% of the total team cap. It also gives the organization a chance to win in its first season, maybe even make the playoffs, though admittedly a lot of solid continuous progress would have to be made for that to come to fruition.
The oddsmakers don't appear to agree with that assessment, putting the team's over-under win total at a mere 15.5 games over a 44-game schedule. In contrast, Portland, the other expansion team joining the league this season, went the other direction. They did sign Canada's own Bridget Carleton for over a million dollars, but she is the only million-plus player on the roster. No other player on their roster commands over $500,000 as the Fire have focused on bringing a young team together and building through the draft.
Team Identity and Style
Look at the roster makeup and the answer is rather evident. This is going to be a team that relies heavily on its ability to defend, play hard and play fast. Sykes is a former WNBA defender of the year and was named in the most recent WNBA GM Survey as the most athletic player in the league. She brings a defence-first mentality and leaves no question about what the identity of this team is.
"Look, if we're being honest, identity was set that first day of training camp. I think this staff, you know (general manager Monica Wright Rogers) and everybody, they were really intentional about the pieces that they picked to even bring into camp because there was a certain style and a certain identity that they want to play with. So they went and got those players," Sykes said.
Head coach Sandy Brondello points out rebounding is going to be key for this team. There's little point in working your tail off to force misses only to give the ball back to your opponent. The other side of that equation is if the team is rebounding well it allows the team's guards that like to get out and run to use that speed to get up the floor and play against a defence that isn't quite set. But it all starts with a five-person defence that is relentless, re-establishes possession and then turns the tables on the opponent with a quick-strike offence.
Projected Starting Five
Out of the gate and assuming health, the Tempo will likely start a five that includes a backcourt of defending EuroLeague Women's Final Six MVP Julie Allemand and Sykes. Up front the team will go with Mabrey, Nyara Sabally and Temi Fagbenle, although the latter two have been dealing with injuries. It's a veteran-heavy starting five, which is in step with the Tempo's desire to play win-now basketball.
Patience Required?
Even with a veteran coach and a strong veteran presence on the roster, this team is going to need some time to grow. Brondello makes no secret of the fact she wants to win as soon as possible, but she knows players are still learning her system, and not even the 10 or 11 practices the team has had through training camp are going to lock all of that in. Then there's the heavy Euroleague influence on the roster. Even the terminology Brondello uses is likely new to them. Again, there is going to be a learning curve. Because of late arrivals from Europe, the team hasn't been together for all that long, but the coach has seen progress and for the most part likes what she sees. Brondello cautioned that it "won't look beautiful all the time" but she's confident the team is prepared as it can be for day one "and hopefully that will be enough to win."
Home Venue and Schedule
The Tempo will play most of their 22 home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum on the Exhibition Place grounds, a space they share with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and the Toronto Sceptres of the PWHL. Three home games will be at Scotiabank Arena, two will be in Montreal, and two will be in Vancouver.
Key Storylines to Watch
It will be interesting to keep an eye on first-round pick Kiki Rice out of UCLA. Rice was an integral part of the Bruins' run to an NCAA championship. Everywhere Rice has played, she has won, and the expectation is it won't be long before she's pushing for significant minutes on a nightly basis at the professional level. Another player to keep an eye on is recently signed Euroleague standout Maria Conde. The 29-year-old member of the Spanish national team has long been considered the best Euro player who has yet to play in the WNBA. That could change as early as Friday. Conde missed the vast majority of training camp, but Brondello believes she has enough basketball acumen to step right in and be a factor even as early as the opener. Locally, all eyes will be on Hamilton's own Kia Nurse, a WNBA veteran. Nurse is one of three Tempo players who has already played under Brondello and clearly a local favourite. The Tempo are Nurse's sixth different WNBA team. Nurse had a three-year stint in New York with the Liberty between 2018 and 2020, which is her longest tenure in one spot.
The home opener is Friday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. vs. Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
