The Toronto Tempo are making significant moves as they prepare for their debut season in the WNBA, securing key signings, including 2025 all-star Brittney Sykes.
In addition to Sykes, the Tempo have confirmed the acquisitions of guards Marina Mabrey and Julie Allemand, both selected in the first round of the recent expansion draft. These signings mark the beginning of multi-year contracts for all three players.
Sykes, hailing from Newark, N.J., showcased impressive stats last season with averages of 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and four assists per game while playing for Washington and Seattle. With a career spanning 279 games across Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington, and Seattle, the 32-year-old has maintained career averages of 12.3 points, four rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Notably, she earned spots on the league’s All-Defensive teams in 2021, 2020, and 2022.
Monica Wright Rogers, the Tempo’s general manager, expressed confidence in Sykes, highlighting her all-star experience, defensive prowess, and leadership qualities as valuable assets to the team’s evolving roster.
Sykes, originally drafted seventh overall by Atlanta in 2017, made an immediate impact by earning a spot on the WNBA all-rookie team in her debut season. Meanwhile, Mabrey, the sixth-overall pick in the expansion draft, has demonstrated consistency across her 229-game career with averages of 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. Last season, the 29-year-old from Belmar, N.J., excelled with the Sun, starting in all but one game and averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and four assists per game.
Wright Rogers praised Mabrey’s confidence, versatility, and competitive spirit, emphasizing her ability to shine in crucial moments and contribute offensively in various ways. Additionally, Allemand, selected second overall, brings her experience from Indiana, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with averages of 5.5 points and 4.7 assists over 81 career games. The 29-year-old Belgian player, who aided her national team in securing EuroBasket titles in 2023 and 2025, posted solid numbers of 5.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and five assists in the previous season.
Toronto has further bolstered its roster by signing Lexi Held, Maria Conde, Nikolina Milic, Kristy Wallace, Elizabeth Balogun, and Laura Juskaite to training camp contracts. Held, Milic, and Wallace were among the expansion draft picks. The Tempo are set to kick off their inaugural WNBA campaign on May 8 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, facing off against Washington in their first game.