NFL
The WNBA season is underway, and teams are getting warmed up. This is a big year for the league, as it is not only its 30th anniversary, but it is also the debut season of two new teams.
The Portland Fire are representing the Western Conference, and the Toronto Tempo are competing in the East. Toronto started the season with a game against the Washington Mystics, and it did not go in the Tempo’s favor. Washington pulled off a 68-65 win, but Toronto put up a fight.
Since then, the Tempo had two more games, and one of them was a victory. Like the first game, Toronto played in front of its home crowd. The team fed off the energy of their home crowd, and that led to an 86-73 win over the Seattle Storm. After that, they lost a road game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Toronto’s Season Continues
Now, the Tempo have a chance to redeem themselves, as they have another road game against the Sparks. It is a chance to reach .500 status and climb the Eastern Conference standings. The season is still young, and as an expansion team, the Tempo are going to have their ups and downs. However, there will be some positives.
For starters, Toronto has a championship-winning head coach. Sandy Brondello is leading the way, and before she started her coaching journey, she played in the league. She played for the Detroit Shock, the Miami Sol and the Storm.
Once her playing days were over, she pivoted to coaching. Eventually, she became the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury, and she made history in her first season. The Mercury had a historic season in 2014, as they finished with a record of 29-5. They cruised through the playoffs, and they won their third championship after beating the Chicago Sky. Brondello won Coach of the Year, and she was the first Mercury coach to do so.
Brondello Strikes Again
Brondello stayed with the Mercury until 2022. She led them to the WNBA Finals in 2021, and after that season, both sides decided to part ways. Then, she coached the New York Liberty, and they won a championship in 2024. Fast forward to the present, and she is trying to take an inexperienced team to the top.
Toronto found the ideal coach, and before the start of the season, the franchise shaped its roster. The WNBA held an expansion draft, and the Tempo selected players like Julie Allemand, Marina Mabrey and others. Then, they drafted Kiki Rice and others in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The Tempo are off to a solid start, and becoming successful will take time. The Golden State Valkyries had a strong debut season, and they made the playoffs. However, that is a difficult task. Regardless of where the Tempo finish this season, they have a chance to make a name for themselves. Chances are, they do just that and prove to their conference rivals they are a team to keep an eye on.
Toronto’s future is bright, and things are just getting started for this franchise.
