Eli Horowitz, despite facing obstacles, expressed readiness from the Toronto Tempo front office to assemble a competitive team for their debut season. The Tempo, alongside the Portland Fire, made their first 11 player selections in the WNBA expansion draft shortly after the league and players’ association reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement.
The Tempo’s initial pick in the expansion draft was guard Julie Allemand from the Los Angeles Sparks, following Portland’s selection of Bridget Carleton from the Minnesota Lynx. With the regular season commencing on May 8 and free agency and the draft still on the horizon, there is a busy agenda for the Tempo.
Horowitz, the team’s assistant general manager, highlighted the challenging process but emphasized the team’s reliance on the WNBA experience within the management and coaching staff to navigate the player selection. Monica Wright Rogers, the general manager, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the adaptability of WNBA players to varying timelines.
In a strategic move, the Tempo won a coin toss, opting for the sixth pick instead of the seventh in the upcoming WNBA draft. Toronto also announced the selection of Marina Mabrey, Nikolina Milic, Maria Conde, Kristy Wallace, Aaliyah Nye, Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Nyara Sabally, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa in the expansion draft.
Horowitz expressed excitement about the competitive team they are building, with the Tempo and Fire expanding the WNBA to 14th and 15th teams, respectively. The Tempo have four picks in the upcoming draft and are gearing up for what Horowitz described as a “very, very strong” draft year.
Looking ahead to free agency, Wright Rogers highlighted the importance of securing key players for the roster, building on the foundation laid during the expansion draft selections. With a clear strategy in place, the Tempo aim to solidify their lineup for a strong start to the season.