Rachel: Ten players out. A heartbreaking loss in Connecticut that marked the end of an era for the Sun franchise itself. And a roster that has been picked apart by injury so severely, it’s hard to even call it a basketball team anymore.
Dave: It’s brutal, Rachel. We’re looking at the aftermath of an 11-31 season, but more importantly, we’re looking at what happens when you lose half your squad before the final buzzer sounds in Chicago.
Rachel: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Rachel, joined by our lead analyst Dave. Today, we are doing an Around the League look at the Toronto Tempo. We’ve got three things on tap: first, the massive shift in the Eastern Conference division as teams like the Sun pack up for Houston; second, how the Tempo stacks up against those remaining rivals with their depleted roster; and third, what those outside results mean for the Tempo’s path toward that projected 22-win season next year.
Dave: Exactly. And remember, we talked about this core trio—Kiki Rice, Julie Allemand, Isabelle Harrison—being the permanent foundation. The question now is whether they can actually play enough games to make that foundation matter.
Rachel: Let’s dive right into Segment One: Division Rivals and League Storylines. The biggest headline isn’t just about the Tempo losing; it’s about the Connecticut Sun leaving Connecticut entirely.
Dave: Right. The Sun beat the Tempo 95-81 on September 24th, but that was the franchise’s final game in Connecticut before moving to Houston. It’s a huge league-wide story. For the Tempo, playing that last game in Hartford felt like a funeral for a rival, not just a regular-season matchup.
Rachel: And yet, despite the drama of the Sun’s departure, the Tempo still couldn’t get the win. Ashlon Jackson led Connecticut with 18 points, and Hailey Van Lith had a near triple-double with 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Meanwhile, Kiki Rice went off for 28 points for Toronto. That’s the disconnect. Rice is scoring, but the rest of the supporting cast is missing.
Dave: That’s the key. You have Kiki Rice dropping 28, Isabelle Harrison grabbing 10 boards, Julie Allemand dishing 5 assists. That’s a strong individual line from the core trio. But look at the injury report from that game. Ten players were listed as Out. Rayah Marshall, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Saniya Rivers, Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke, Kamila Borkowska, Maria Gakdeng, Maria Conde, Temi Fagbenle, Marina Mabrey. All out.
Rachel: Ten players. That’s basically the entire bench and a significant chunk of the rotation. So when we talk about division rivals, we have to ask: who is left? The Chicago Sky beat the Tempo 97-85 just two days prior, on September 22nd, snapping their own five-game losing streak. Gabriela Jaquez and Sydney Taylor both scored 18, and Kamilla Cardoso added 17.
Dave: And that’s the reality of the Eastern Conference right now. The Sky were struggling too, 3-15 in the conference, but they had bodies. They had depth. The Tempo was on an 11-game road slide, physically exhausted, and mathematically eliminated. The Power Rankings this week were interesting—ESPN voted on the league’s all-time greatest players ahead of the 30th season, putting A’ja Wilson at No. 1. But for us, the story is the offseason guides for every eliminated team. Toronto is one of them.
Rachel: So, we’re starting fresh. The Sun are gone to Houston. The Sky are rebuilding around Jaquez and Taylor. And the Tempo is sitting at 4th in the Eastern Conference Division with an 11-31 record. Let’s move to Segment Two: How the Tempo Stacks Up Against Those Rivals.
Rachel: Before we break down the tactical matchups, I want to take a quick breath. If you’ve enjoyed our deep dive into the Tempo’s injury crisis and how it reshapes the division, please consider supporting the show. Your contributions help keep this daily coverage free and accessible for all fans. Check the link in the episode description to chip in—it makes a world of difference.
Dave: Thanks, Rachel. Now, let’s look at the film. When you compare the Tempo to the Sky from that September 22nd game, the spacing issue is glaring. Chicago played with pace, pushing the ball in transition. Kiki Rice tried to carry the load, but without help from the wing players who are currently injured, the offense became iso-heavy.
Rachel: Iso-heavy. Right. And defensively, it was a mess. Isabelle Harrison did her job on the glass with 10 rebounds, but she was isolated. Without Timi Fagbenle or Marina Mabrey to help switch on the perimeter, the Tempo’s rotations broke down. Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso dominated the paint, scoring 17 points. That’s a rim protection failure.
Dave: Exactly. And then you look at the Sun game. Hailey Van Lith controlled the tempo with 8 assists and 9 rebounds. She was running the pick-and-roll effectively, finding open shooters. Toronto didn’t have enough shooters on the floor because half the team was out. Kiki Rice’s 28 points were impressive, but they came against a defense that could collapse because there was no threat from the corners.
Rachel: So, if we project for next season, and we know the core trio of Rice, Allemand, and Harrison stays—which we’ve predicted multiple times—the question is: do they add depth? The brief mentions the Sun moving to Houston. Does that change the geographic dynamics of the division? Or is it purely about talent?
Dave: Geographically, yes, it helps Toronto slightly less travel to the East Coast hubs, but talent-wise, it’s neutral. The real issue is the injury list. Ten players out is unsustainable. If the Tempo aims for 22 wins next season, as we discussed in the mailbag, they need versatility. They need players who can switch 1 through 4. Julie Allemand is great at facilitating, but she needs someone else to create separation.
Rachel: We’ve said it before: health is the X-factor. If Kiki Rice, Julie Allemand, and Isabelle Harrison stay healthy, 22 wins is realistic. But if another ten-player injury crisis hits, they’re looking at 10 wins again. It’s that simple. The roster construction relies on these three carrying the weight.
Dave: Let’s talk about those outside results. The WNBA Power Rankings highlighted what went right for every team. For Toronto, what went right? Honestly, it’s hard to say. Maybe the development of Kiki Rice as a primary scorer. Her 28-point performance against the Sun shows she can handle the burden.
Rachel: But what about the league-wide context? ESPN’s ranking of the greatest players in history, with A’ja Wilson at No. 1, reminds us that this league is competitive. The bar is high. For the Tempo, being 11-31 and 4th in the division means they’re in a rebuild. But not a total teardown. The core remains.
Dave: Right. And the offseason guides for eliminated teams stress the need for strategic roster cuts. Toronto needs to be aggressive. Cut the dead weight, keep the young players who show promise, and invest in depth. The injury list proves that having only nine healthy players is a death sentence in the modern WNBA.
Rachel: So, predictions time. We’ve already said 22 wins. But what about the division race? With the Sun gone, does the Tempo climb to 3rd? Or does the Sky jump ahead with their new core of Jaquez and Taylor?
Dave: I think the Sky jumps ahead. They have momentum. Jaquez and Taylor are emerging stars. The Tempo is still figuring out its identity after a disastrous season. I’d put the Tempo at 4th again, but closer in wins if health holds.
Rachel: Fair point. The Sky have the firepower. The Tempo has the potential, but potential doesn’t win games in October. It wins games in April and May. So, the focus shifts entirely to training camp. Can they build a deeper roster?
Dave: One line recap: The Toronto Tempo ends an 11-31 season with a core intact but a roster decimated by injuries, facing a tough road to 22 wins next year as division rivals like the Sky rise.
Rachel: If you loved this breakdown of the Tempo’s future, please subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. Share it with a fellow fan who needs to hear this analysis. Let’s keep the conversation going.
Dave: Stay positive, Toronto. Keep the faith. The core is here. The work starts now.
Rachel: This is Rachel and Dave signing off from the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Tempo!