On September 20, 2026, the Toronto Tempo lost 106-69 to the New York Liberty during their final home game. A sellout crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum cheered the new franchise until the game ended.

Advertisement

The record-breaking Canadian appetite for WNBA basketball

High attendance figures across North America suggest that the WNBA has found a significant new stronghold in Canada. According to the report, the Tempo drew massie crowds throughout their inaugural tour, including a WNBA regular-season record of 20,996 fans at Montreal's Bell Centre .

The Tempo also saw significant interest during their appearances at Scotiabank Arena, where crowds reached as high as 19,300 during games featuring the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark. these numbers, alongside crowds in Vancouver ranging from 12,414 to 15,877, indicate that the expansion team's commercial viability is not tied solely to their win-loss record.. The team maintained an average home crowd of 10,828 throughout the season, demonstrating a consistent interest in the new league.

Laura Juskaite’s 28-point effort amid a season of injuries

Rookie forward Laura Juskaite provided a bright spot in the final loss, scoring a career-high 28 points against the New York Liberty. The Lithuanian standout , who suffered a cut above her upper lip during the contest, was the only member of the Toronto Tempo to appear in all 42 games during this debut season.

Injuries to key roster members significantly hampered the Tempo's ability to maintain momentum during the year. As the report notes , veteran Brittney Sykes dealt with a left foot injury, while high-scoring guard Marina Mabrey—who averages 20.8 points per game and ranks fifth in WNBA scoring—missed time due to a right adductor injury. These absences contributed to a difficult stretch where the team dropped six straight games.

Can the Tempo sustain momentum after an 11-31 finish?

The Toronto Tempo face a steep climb to improve their standing, having lost 18 of their last 19 games to finish with an 11-31 record.. This late-season slump raises questions about whether the team can translate high attendance into a winning culture once the initial novelty of the WNBA in Canada fades.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the team's depth and health heading into the 2027 season. While the development of rookies like Juskaite and Kiki Rice offers hope,the organization must determine if they can build a roster capable of competing with elite teams like the Liberty. It remains to be seen if the team can avoid the same injury-plagued patterns that derailed their early-season success.

Sandy Brondello’s focus on Juskaite and Kiki Rice

Head coach Sandy Brondello expressed a mix of disappointment and optimism following the lopsided defeat at Coca-Cola Coliseum. While she criticized the team's second-half effort,she praised the resiliency shown by the players through a difficult expansion year.

The coaching staff intends to build the future of the franchise around young talent like Juskaite and Kiki Rice, the latter of whom scored 19 points in the finale. Brondello highlighted both players as foundational pieces because of their pride and commitment to improvement. The Tempo will look to close out their inaugural season with road games against the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun.