The Toronto Tempo have three games left in their inaugural season, and a lengthy injury report, but each loss brings them closer to a different goal: a top draft pick. If Toronto loses all three of their remaining games, and Connecticut loses all but their final game against the Tempo, they will tie the Sun for the top odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA draft.
Per a league source, in the event that the Sun and Tempo end up tied for the top odds, the available lottery ball number combinations in the draft lottery will be evenly split between the two teams.
Of course, in a draft that will likely include USC star Juju Watkins, every chance matters. The Tempo gave their fans the best of both worlds Friday night at home, playing a close and competitive game against the Indiana Fever, but ultimately falling 103-85.
Earlier this week, the Tempo’s sole All-Star Marina Mabrey was shut down for the remainder of the season with an adductor injury. Along with her, Brittney Sykes, Aneesah Morrow (both out for the season) and Maria Conde were all on the injury report against the Fever.
The Tempo gained back a few bodies as they were awarded hardship contracts to sign their development players Ornella Bankole and Zaay Green to rest of season deals on Friday.
“I don’t think you guys can see it, but they really are a big piece in the locker room,” Isabelle Harrison said of Bankole and Green. “I was really happy when we got those hardship contracts, but I think we’re definitely relying on them right now because we’re down numbers.”
“Having them come in to be ready and flow into what we already been doing, I think is big, and they’re really grateful for the opportunity.”
It was also the Tempo’s first game back after their two-week long break for the FIBA World Cup. While Conde, Julie Allemand, and Nyara Sabally were all in Berlin playing, the rest of the Tempo roster had a lengthy break, meaning they risked coming into this game under conditioned.
“I think for all of us, it’s just nice to be back out there, especially those of us who didn’t like you know, play over the break,” rookie Kiki Rice said. “We’ve had a long time in between games, we had a lot of really good practices and a lot of really good time together. I think we, you know, we came out today and we competed.”
Rice had a great showing, scoring 18 points with six rebounds, five assists. Laura Juskaite led with 22 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Harrison had 16 points, nine rebounds, one steal. Despite a tough effort from the Tempo’s remaining players, it wasn’t enough to hold strong against Indiana’s tough offence.
For Indiana, this game against the Tempo was just as important to their season, for different reasons. They are in a tight battle for playoff positioning and currently sit just outside of the top-4 and the chance to host their first-round playoff series. It was their guard duo of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell who combined for 61 points to help the push the Fever over the edge.
Kelsey Mitchell also became the highest-scoring player in a single WNBA season when she scored her 1,023rd of the year, passing A’ja Wilson.
The Tempo have three remaining games now, and one at home. That will be Sunday against New York, before they hit the road to play Chicago. Their final game of the season will be the Sun’s last game ever before the franchise relocates to Houston next year.
