NFL
By: Davion Moore
The Toronto Tempo are off to a solid start, and after losing to the Minnesota Lynx, they are back in action. Toronto’s next game is a matchup with the Portland Fire, and like the Tempo, they are an expansion team. That fact makes the upcoming matchup even more intriguing.
So far, the Tempo have a record of 3-3. They started the season with a loss, but since then, they have picked up victories. Toronto beat the Seattle Storm in its second game, and the new team beat the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury after that.
After the win over the Storm, the Tempo started a road trip. They were in enemy territory for their next four games, and their last road game was the win over Phoenix. The duo of Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey led the way in that game, and they secured a win over a veteran roster. Sykes had 31 points and Mabrey had 30. They were unstoppable that night, and it led to their third win.
Toronto Comes Home
Road trips are exhausting, but the Tempo will host the Fire today. As the old saying goes, there is no place like home. Toronto competed while on the road, and now, Skyes and her teammates can improve to 4-3. If that happens, they will be over .500 for the first time in franchise history.
This expansion team is doing well, and the next game is for bragging rights. The Tempo have a chance to prove that they are a threat and they are the better (expansion) team. However, it will be a challenge. The Fire have a record of 2-3, but they have shown promise early on.
Portland beat the New York Liberty in the second game of the season, and Bridget Carleton was the star. She led the Fire with 26 points, four steals and a rebound. Her performance helped her team beat a contender, and later on, Portland picked up another win. The Fire beat the Connecticut Sun, and after that, they lost to the Indiana Fever. Now, they are seeking their third win while on the road.
Toronto has the keys to succeed, and getting over .500 is a sign. Of course, there will be struggles, but the team is on the rise. The matchup between both expansion teams is a glimpse into the future, and the game may come down to the wire. It all comes down to who wants it more.
