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The Toronto Tempo haven’t been able to build a team yet or even hold an expansion draft to put together their first roster, but head coach Sandy Brondello knows exactly what kind of player she wants and what they need to bring to the table. As Brondello, who was hired by the Tempo after departing the New York Liberty, told Sportsnet.ca she is looking for “tough-minded players who are gritty, who can play, who are selfless, but still obviously have confidence in their ability as well.”
Brondello also emphasized that the Tempo will want to play a fast game of basketball, which means they’ll need a strong set of athletic players who can keep up.
Elsewhere in the interview, Brondello said she isn’t too concerned about the fact that the WNBA and the WNBPA haven’t signed a new CBA yet. As she put it, “There’s no use sweating things that are out of my control, so I try not to get too high or too low — just have an excitement, look forward to something.”
Brondello also pointed out that the expectation remains that the team will be able to put together a roster, ideally sooner than later. Last year’s expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, held their own expansion draft in December 2024. The Valkyries were able to put together a roster of players that fit the team’s vision — and, eventually, the Tempo and Portland Fire will be able to do the same.
The Tempo were also announced in December 2024, days after fans noticed the WNBA website had been updated with the team’s name in a dropdown menu. While explaining the team’s name, franchise president Teresa Resch explained, “Tempo is pace. It’s speed. It’s a heartbeat. And it’s what you feel when you step into the streets of this city, and in the energy of the people who call Canada home. As Canada’s WNBA team, I know the Tempo will set our own pace, move at a championship cadence, and inspire people across this country.”
The Tempo announced the hiring of two-time WNBA champion Monica Wright in January 2025. Wright made her debut with the team in 2010 with the Minnesota Lynx. She played for the team until 2015, when she joined the Seattle Storm. The following year was her final season in the league as a player.
Once the 2026 season begins, the WNBA will be 15 teams strong — and the league is set to add three more teams before 2030.
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