TORONTO (NET25) — And just like that, the Toronto Tempo closed out the home portion of their WNBA inaugural season at Coca-Cola Coliseum against the New York Liberty.
This game marked the first time Toronto fans had the opportunity to see WNBA stars Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart take the floor. Getting a glimpse of two of the league’s biggest names, however, came at a cost. New York dominated throughout the night, walking away with a 106-69 win. The Liberty shot 56.5% from the field and an impressive 43.3% from three.
Toronto entered Sunday’s game without their leading scorers, Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, creating an opportunity for Laura Juškaitė to shine. She finished the night with a career-high 28 points.
Though it was not the ending that fans hoped for, the optimism surrounding this franchise was palpable.
With just under three minutes remaining, the Tempo played a tribute video of the inaugural season and, on cue, the crowd stood and applauded their WNBA team.
When the final buzzer sounded, Sykes took to centre court to thank the crowd, receiving a standing ovation despite the 37-point loss and an 11-31 team record.
The unwavering support of the Tempo’s home crowd reveals something far deeper than the final score on the board. It shows just how much this team has come to mean to the city and to the country as a whole.
Toronto averaged 10,828 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum throughout its inaugural season, while three games at Scotiabank Arena drew crowds of more than 19,000. The support for the Tempo, however, extended well beyond the city of Toronto.
In Montreal, a record-setting 20,996 fans packed the Bell Centre to watch the Tempo take on the Dallas Wings. The team also faced the New York Liberty during its stop in the city.
The support continued out west, where more than 28,000 fans attended the Tempo’s two games at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
After the game, Laura Juškaitė acknowledged the bittersweet emotions of playing in front of the Toronto crowd during the home finale.
“Tonight was kind of mixed feelings because the way we played is not the way this team is built and not the face we want to show,” Juškaitė said. “Our fans cheered for us no matter what and it’s been since day one so I really appreciate their support. But we need to play tougher and no matter the last few games maybe doesn’t mean anything but we are building something more, it's a long term thing and we should be better.”
Juškaitė’s words echoed a sentiment that has been present throughout the organization all season. Their first year may not have produced the results they hoped for on the court, but they are laying the foundation for something much bigger than their 11-31 record suggests.
From coast to coast, Tempo fans showed up for a team they had waited years to call their own. They filled arenas and stayed on their feet through final buzzers. Even after devastating losses, they continued to make sure the players left the court knowing exactly what the first season meant.
There will be plenty for the Tempo to build on heading into Year Two. There will be games to win, lessons to carry forward, and an identity that is still taking shape. But if anyone was still wondering whether Canada was ready for its own WNBA team, the thousands of fans who showed up throughout the summer provided the answer.
With two road games remaining, Toronto’s inaugural season is nearly in the books. But for this organization, this is only the beginning.
(NET25)
