Rachel: Kiki Rice dropped twenty-eight in a loss, ten teammates were out, and the Sun just played their final game before moving to Houston. What does this chaotic end mean for Toronto’s future? We are breaking down the league around you.
Dave: It was a brutal finale for the Tempo, but also a fascinating look at how the Eastern Conference is reshaping itself. We have all the context you need right here on the Beatline Podcast Network.
Rachel: Welcome to today’s Around the League edition of the Toronto Tempo Show. I’m Rachel, and with me as always is Dave. If you’re new here, we are your daily source for everything Tempo, powered by real data and real analysis. Before we dive in, let’s lay out what we’re covering today. First, we’re looking at the division rivals and what their recent moves mean for Toronto. Second, we’ll break down how the Tempo stacks up against those same teams after that tough finish. And third, we’ll talk about what outside results across the league tell us about Toronto’s path forward next season. Let’s get into it.
Dave: Right. And remember, last time we talked about the core trio of Kiki Rice, Julie Allemand, and Isabelle Harrison being essential. Today, we’re zooming out. It’s not just about Toronto anymore; it’s about where they sit in the broader landscape of the East.
Rachel: Let’s start with the headlines. The biggest story coming out of late September wasn’t just Toronto’s record, which finished at eleven and thirty-three. It was the Connecticut Sun playing their final game in Connecticut before relocating to Houston. That’s a massive shift in the Eastern Conference geography. How do you view that change?
Dave: It’s huge. The Sun beat the Tempo ninety-five to eighty-one in that final game. Ashlon Jackson led them with eighteen points, and Hailey Van Lith had eight assists and nine rebounds. But now, that team is moving west. For Toronto, that means one less direct rival in the immediate East, but also a disruption in the competitive balance. The Sun were a tough defensive team to scout, and now they’re gone from this conference entirely.
Rachel: So, if the Sun are heading to Houston, who are the Tempo actually competing against now in terms of divisional play? We saw them lose to the Chicago Sky ninety-seven to eighty-five earlier in the week. Gabriela Jaquez and Sydney Taylor both scored eighteen points for Chicago, and Kamilla Cardoso added seventeen. That snapped a five-game losing streak for the Sky.
Dave: Exactly. The Sky are still a pain point for Toronto. They’re sitting at fifteen and twenty-seven, while Toronto is eleven and thirty-three. Both teams are struggling, but Chicago has more talent on paper. When Jaquez and Taylor hit their shots, they exploit poor spacing. Toronto struggled to contain that pick-and-roll coverage because their rotations were compromised by injuries. Remember, ten players were out for that game alone.
Rachel: Ten players out. Let’s list that out because it’s staggering. Rayah Marshall, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Saniya Rivers, Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke, Kamila Borkowska, Maria Gakdeng, Maria Conde, Temi Fagbenle, and Marina Mabrey. All out. How did that impact the Tempo’s ability to compete against a team like Chicago?
Dave: It made it impossible. You can’t run a proper switching scheme when you don’t have your bigs or your secondary ball-handlers. Kiki Rice had to carry the scoring load, finishing with twenty-eight points. Julie Allemand dished five assists, and Isabelle Harrison grabbed ten rebounds. But even with that individual brilliance, the team defense collapsed. Chicago’s offensive efficiency skyrocketed because Toronto couldn’t rotate help quickly enough.
Rachel: And then there’s the New York Liberty. We saw highlights from their matchup with Toronto on September twentieth. The Liberty are a powerhouse, and they’ve been consistent contenders. How does their dominance affect Toronto’s standing?
Dave: The Liberty set the standard. When they play, they dictate the pace. Toronto was on an eleven-game road slide leading up to these final games, facing teams like Chicago and Connecticut. Against New York, the gap in depth was obvious. Toronto finished sixth in the Eastern Conference Division, but that number feels misleading given the injury toll. If everyone had been healthy, maybe the standings look different, but the Liberty showed what peak execution looks like.
Rachel: So, the division landscape is shifting. Sun moving west, Sky trying to rebuild momentum, Liberty staying strong. Where does Toronto fit in now?
Dave: That brings us to our second segment: how the Tempo stacks up. At eleven and thirty-three, they’re clearly in a rebuilding phase. But the core pieces—Rice, Allemand, Harrison—are showing promise. Rice’s twenty-eight-point performance against a fully healthy Sun squad was a statement. She can score at a high level.
Rachel: But scoring isn’t everything. Defense is where the Tempo really struggled. Against Chicago, they gave up ninety-seven points. Their rim protection was non-existent without Griner and Nelson-Ododa. Even with Harrison grabbing ten boards, she couldn’t cover the entire paint alone. How do you fix that defensively for next season?
Dave: You build around athleticism and switching. Julie Allemand is a great passer, but she needs defenders who can guard multiple positions. If Toronto retains its core trio, as we predicted previously, they need to add two-way wings who can handle the pick-and-roll. Without that, they’ll keep getting exposed by teams like Chicago and New York.
Rachel: So, retaining the core is key. We’ve said this before: Kiki Rice, Julie Allemand, and Isabelle Harrison should be the permanent foundation. Do you agree that keeping them together is the best move?
Dave: Absolutely. Rice is a young scorer who thrives in isolation and transition. Allemand provides the playmaking stability. Harrison offers interior presence. Together, they form a solid base. The issue is supporting cast. Toronto needs to find players who can fill specific gaps—shot blockers, three-point shooters, and defensive specialists.
Rachel: And what about the goal for next season? We mentioned earlier that aiming for twenty-two wins is realistic if health improves. Does that feel achievable?
Dave: Yes, but it depends on roster cuts. If they execute aggressively and remove dead weight, adding the right pieces, twenty-two wins is possible. It’s not about winning the championship yet; it’s about development. Individual growth is the primary metric for success this offseason.
Rachel: So, the focus is on player development and smart acquisitions. Got it. Now, let’s take a quick break to talk about something important to this show.
Rachel: We want to keep the Beatline Podcast Network free for everyone. No ads, no paywalls. Just real talk about your team. If you value that, please consider supporting us directly. Visit the link in the episode description to chip in. Your support keeps this daily show alive and helps us bring you the best analysis every single day. Thank you so much.
Dave: We appreciate every listener who tunes in and supports the mission. It allows us to dig deep into the stats and stories that matter most to you.
Rachel: To recap: The Sun are moving to Houston, the Sky are snapping their slump, and the Tempo must focus on developing its core trio while improving defense. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Share this episode with a fellow Tempo fan. Go Tempo!