Rachel: Imagine walking into a locker room where ten of your twelve teammates are listed as 'Out' on the injury report before the first tip-off even happens. That wasn't a hypothetical for the Toronto Tempo; it was their reality in that heartbreaking 95-81 finale against the Connecticut Sun.
Dave: It’s brutal, Rachel. You look at the box score from September 24th, and you see Kiki Rice dropping 28 points like she was carrying the entire franchise on her back. But then you look at the injury list—Brittney Griner out, Olivia Nelson-Ododa out, Rayah Marshall out. It’s a mass casualty event.
Rachel: And yet, despite the carnage, we’re here talking about the future. Today is a Roster Battles episode. We are dissecting exactly who stays, who goes, and how this team survives the offseason chaos. I’m Rachel, and this is the Beatline Podcast Network.
Dave: I’m Dave. And if you’ve been following along since our last few episodes, you know we’ve been tracking the same core narrative: keeping Rice, Allemand, and Harrison intact while figuring out what to do with the rest of this shattered roster.
Rachel: Exactly. So, here is the roadmap for today. First, we tackle the most critical position battle: the starting point guard spot and how Julie Allemand’s health dictates the entire offense. Second, we dive into the frontcourt depth chart—who actually steps up when Isabelle Harrison needs rest? And third, we predict the roster cuts. Who is trending down?
Dave: We’re also going to touch on the elephant in the room: JuJu Watkins. If the Tempo gets that number one pick in the November 15th lottery, does she change the conversation about these roster battles immediately?
Rachel: Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the depth chart, I want to take a quick second. If today’s breakdown helps you understand the Tempo’s strategy better, or if you just enjoy hearing us dig into these gritty details, please consider supporting the show. It keeps us free and daily. Just check the link in the episode description.
Dave: Appreciate you all. Let’s get to work. Segment One: The Point Guard Battle.
Rachel: Okay, let’s start with the engine room. In that final game against Connecticut, Julie Allemand had five assists. On paper, that sounds modest. But remember, Hailey Van Lith had eight assists for the Sun, and Van Lith was also pulling down nine rebounds. The tempo difference was stark.
Dave: Right. And that’s because the Tempo’s spacing was non-existent. When Allemand is healthy, she creates separation. When she’s not, or when she’s playing through pain, the offense collapses into isolation plays. Kiki Rice had to carry the scoring load alone because there were no secondary creators.
Rachel: So, the battle isn’t really about who starts at point guard. It’s about whether Allemand can stay healthy enough to be the primary facilitator. If she’s out, who takes those reps? Do we look at someone like Saniya Rivers? Or is she part of the ten players listed as 'Out' in that final game?
Dave: Saniya Rivers was definitely out. Look at that injury list again. Ten players out. It’s a disaster. So the real battle is internal. Can Allemand handle the minutes? Does the coaching staff need to bring in a veteran backup to share the load? Because watching Rice try to run the offense AND score 28 points is unsustainable over a full season.
Rachel: That’s the key word: unsustainable. If the Tempo wants to hit that 22-win target we talked about yesterday, they need more than just Rice’s heroics. They need a system. And that system relies on Allemand’s vision. If she’s limited, the whole structure falls apart.
Dave: Agreed. And this ties directly into our next prediction from previous episodes: retaining the core trio. If Allemand isn’t available, do you still retain her? Yes. Absolutely. She’s too valuable tactically. But the question is, do you add another guard to support her?
Rachel: I think so. You can’t build a championship contender on hope and three players. There has to be depth. But let’s talk about that depth. Segment Two: The Frontcourt Chaos.
Rachel: Let’s move to the paint. Isabelle Harrison had 10 rebounds against the Sun. A solid double-digit performance. But who else was in there? Brittney Griner was out. Olivia Nelson-Ododa was out. Nyara Sabally was out. Ten people out. Who was actually playing big minutes in the frontcourt?
Dave: This is where the roster battles get messy. With Griner and Nelson-Ododa sidelined, Harrison had to play heavier minutes. But she’s not a center by trade; she’s a forward. Playing her inside against bigger bodies like Ashlon Jackson, who led the Sun with 18 points, is a recipe for foul trouble and fatigue.
Rachel: It feels like the Tempo got exposed in the post. Jackson dominated the glass and the interior scoring. Harrison tried, but without proper rim protection, the defense was porous. This brings up the biggest question for the offseason: Do they keep Harrison as the primary big, or do they look for a traditional center?
Dave: I think they have to find a center. Not necessarily a superstar, but someone who can protect the rim. When you’re losing by 14 points like you did against Connecticut, rim protection is non-negotiable. You can’t just rely on switching everything. You need someone to anchor the paint.
Rachel: So, is Temi Fagbenle an option? She was also listed as 'Out' in that final game. What about Kamila Borkowska? Maria Gakdeng? Maria Conde? These names are scattered across that injury report, but they represent the talent pool that *was* there before everything collapsed.
Dave: Exactly. The injury list is basically the entire bench. It’s terrifying. So the battle is: who comes back healthy? And who do you sign in free agency to fill those gaps? Because right now, the frontcourt is a void. Harrison can’t do it all.
Rachel: And this connects to the draft. If JuJu Watkins falls to Toronto, does she play inside or outside? Her fit depends entirely on whether there’s a frontcourt partner for her. If Harrison is the only big, Watkins might need to stretch the floor more, which changes her development path.
Dave: That’s a great point. Watkins is versatile, but if the Tempo lacks size, she might be asked to play both wings and potentially power forward. That’s a lot of pressure for a rookie. The frontcourt depth is critical not just for the current roster, but for how they integrate a top pick.
Rachel: So, to recap Segment Two: The frontcourt is a disaster area. Harrison is trying to hold the line, but without Griner or Nelson-Ododa, the team is vulnerable. The Tempo needs a true center, either through the draft or free agency, to support Harrison and create space for future additions.
Dave: And that means aggressive moves. We said it before: roster cuts must be executed aggressively. You can’t keep dead weight when you’re already struggling with injuries. Every spot on the roster counts.
Rachel: Which brings us to our final segment. Who is staying, and who is going? Based on the injury crisis and the 11-31 finish, we need to trim the fat.
Dave: I think the core trio—Rice, Allemand, Harrison—is locked in. No debate there. They showed resilience in those final games. But beyond them? I’m looking at the veterans who couldn’t stay healthy. If you can’t stay on the floor, you’re hard to justify keeping long-term unless you’re a high-upside project.
Rachel: I agree. The Tempo is rebuilding. They need young energy and durability. Players like Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally were out, but if they aren’t coming back healthy, that’s a clear cut. The focus shifts to acquiring fresh legs for the 2027 season.
Dave: And don’t forget the draft lottery on November 15th. Houston, Toronto, Washington, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles are all in the mix. If Toronto lands that number one pick for JuJu Watkins, it changes the trajectory of every single roster battle we just discussed.
Rachel: It’s a pivotal moment. From the 95-81 loss to the Sun, to the potential of a Watkins-led future, the Tempo is at a crossroads. But the foundation is there. Rice, Allemand, Harrison. Keep them safe, fix the frontcourt, and see what the lottery brings.
Dave: That’s the plan. 22 wins is the target, but with health and smart roster management, maybe we aim higher. Thanks for listening to this deep dive into the Toronto Tempo’s roster battles.
Rachel: If you enjoyed this analysis, please subscribe, rate, and review the show. It helps us reach more fans. Until next time, go Tempo!