A Historic Night in Toronto
The Toronto Tempo may have suffered a narrow 68-65 defeat to the Washington Mystics in their inaugural season opener, but the atmosphere at the sold-out Coca-Cola Coliseum was nothing short of a landmark moment for Canadian sports. The debut of the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise drew a crowd of 8,210 fans, creating a vibrant energy that defined the evening.
Supporters arrived dressed in the team's signature Bordeaux and blue, bolstered by “Opening Night” shirts provided at their seats. The crowd remained deeply engaged throughout the game, expressing their passion during key moments, including a contentious flagrant foul call against Brittney Sykes and periods where Toronto briefly surged into the lead.
A New Generation Inspired
For many attendees, the event represented a significant milestone. Taylor Naiman, a season-ticket holder, captured the sentiment with a sign reading “Here for History.” Sasha Rennick, who brought her daughters to the game, reflected on the emotional weight of the night:
“We’re a big basketball family. I was at the first Raptors game with my dad, and now this is a full-circle moment being at the first Tempo WNBA Canada game. For these little girls growing up, to see these amazing athletes on the court, playing hard, I think we’re going to have amazing development of new players here in Canada.”
Looking Ahead After a Rough Start
Head coach Sandy Brondello acknowledged the performance was far from perfect but praised the supporters. “Sad that we didn’t win the game, didn’t close it out, but the fans were fantastic,” Brondello noted. She emphasized that while the team struggled offensively, the core issues—such as failing to play as a cohesive unit—are correctable. “We just got to get back to being a selfless basketball team,” she added.
The game featured standout performances, with Marina Mabrey leading the scoring for Toronto with 27 points, while Brittney Sykes secured her place in history by scoring the team's first-ever points. Ultimately, the match was decided in the final 10 seconds by Washington’s Shakira Austin, who converted two pairs of free throws to seal the victory for the Mystics.
Expanding the WNBA Landscape
The Tempo’s entry marks a period of rapid growth for the WNBA, which now encompasses 15 franchises. Following this season's expansion—which includes the Portland Fire—the league plans to add more teams in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Detroit by 2030.
The significance of the moment was underscored by the presence of high-profile attendees, including team owners Larry Tanenbaum and Masai Ujiri, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Kia Nurse, the team's only Canadian-born player, rallied the crowd before tip-off, stating: “We want this to be a permanent thing, we have to show why Canada deserves a WNBA team, and I’ll be damned, y’all did it.”
The Tempo look to bounce back when they host the Seattle Storm on Wednesday.