Toronto Tempo ranks ninth in WNBA standings halfway through inaugural season
The expansion team needs to move up to eighth place to secure playoff contention. Injuries to key players have complicated the Tempo's push for the postseason despite strong crowd support.
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The Toronto Tempo are defying some expectations during their inaugural WNBA season, proving Canada was ready for women's professional basketball. But the expansion team faces a steep climb to make the playoffs.
One of two new expansion teams added to the Women's National Basketball Association, the Tempo is currently ranked ninth out of 15 teams — a spot similar to where the San Francisco Golden State Valkyries sat last year during their first season. However, Toronto needs to move up to eighth place to secure a playoff spot.
Sports broadcaster and women's basketball analyst Savanna Hamilton noted that the Tempo had big expectations to live up to from the start. "There wasn't an expectation that Toronto would simply spend year one laying a foundation. The expectation was to be competitive," Hamilton explained.
Injuries have complicated the Tempo's bid. Guard Brittney Sykes has missed five games with an injured left foot. Rookie Kiki Rice — drafted sixth overall in the college draft — has missed 10 games with a sprained foot. Centre Temi Fagbenle is also out with an eye injury. These absences have forced players into different roles and impacted the team's frontcourt depth.
The biggest highlight so far has been the proof that Toronto belongs as a WNBA market. The frequent sold-out crowds at Coca-Cola Coliseum and the atmosphere inside the arena demonstrate the city's hunger for women's basketball. Guard Marina Mabrey has become the face of the franchise, and during a June 25 game, she scored a historic 53 points in one game, bringing the Tempo's total to a record 125 points.
