The Toronto Tempo failed to finish the home portion of their debut season in a positive manner, but the unwavering fan support was evident until the end.
asserted
support → fail → end
Toronto was thrashed 106-69 by the New York Liberty before a sellout gathering of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum as the expansion Tempo (11-31) dropped its sixth straight game and 18th of their last 19.
asserted
Tempo → thrash → 19
“It’s kind of mixed feelings because the way we played is not the way this team is built, and not the face we want to show,” said Tempo rookie forward Laura Juskaite, who scored a career-high 28 points and suffered a cut above her upper lip in the process.
asserted
who → ’ → process
“Our fans cheered for us no matter what.
asserted
fans → cheer → us
And it’s been like that since Day 1, so I really appreciate their support.
asserted
I → appreciate → support
But we need to play tougher, and no matter what, maybe the last few games don’t mean anything, but we are building something more.
asserted
we → need → something
It’s a long-term thing, and we should be better.”
asserted
we → ’ → ?
Despite the lopsided outcome, the fans continued to support the Tempo up to the final buzzer of the home finale.
asserted
fans → continue → finale
There was a tribute video of the first season shown on the scoreboard during a timeout with 2:57 remaining on the clock.
asserted
2:57 → be → clock
The fans stood up and gave the home side a rousing ovation.
asserted
fans → stand → ovation
Finally, after the final buzzer had sounded, veteran Brittney Sykes grabbed the courtside microphone and thanked the crowd for its support.
asserted
Sykes → sound → support
The place went nuts.
asserted
place → go → ?
“There were only a few games where I was a little disappointed with our effort,” Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello said.
asserted
Brondello → be → effort
But overall, I think their resiliency, their togetherness, has been commendable, and that’s all you can ask for in a season with so much adversity.
asserted
you → think → adversity
“There are some things that we can be really excited about as we move forward into 2027.”
asserted
we → be → 2027
The Tempo jumped out to a swift 7-5 start this season, but injuries to key players like Sykes (left foot) and sharp-shooting guard Marina Mabrey (right adductor) immensely hurt the cause.
asserted
injuries → jump → cause
Mabrey sits fifth in WNBA scoring with 20.8 points per game.
asserted
Mabrey → sit → game
But the mounting losses did not dampen the spirit of the new fan base.
asserted
losses → mount → base
The Tempo finished with an average home crowd of 10,828, consistently selling out Coca-Cola Coliseum and drawing big numbers elsewhere..
asserted
Tempo → finish → numbers
Toronto played two games in Montreal, with the first game at the Bell Centre attracting a WNBA regular-season record of 20,996.
asserted
game → play → 20,996
The Tempo also performed three times at Scotiabank Arena before crowds of 15,687, 18,145 and 19,300 to watch Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
asserted
Tempo → perform → Clark
The second attendance total in Montreal was 12,724, and the two outings in Vancouver attracted gatherings of 12,414 and 15,877.
asserted
outings → attract → 12,414
Only time will tell if the novelty of the WNBA in Canada wears off if the losses continue to pile up for the Tempo.
asserted
losses → tell → Tempo
But so will be the continued development of rookies like Juskaite and Kiki Rice, who scored 19 points against the Liberty.
asserted
who → continue → Liberty
The 28-year-old Juskaite, of Lithuania, is the only Tempo player to play in all 42 games.
asserted
Juskaite → play → games
“They’re the kind of players you want to build around, don’t you?” Brondello said.
asserted
Brondello → ’re → players
“Because they take pride in being the best that they could be.”
uncertain
they → take → pride
The Tempo conclude their inaugural season with road games against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday and the Connecticut Sun on Thursday.
asserted
Tempo → conclude → Thursday
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
The Aporia
