Toronto Tempo suddenly look like one of the WNBA’s most dangerous offensive teams
It's been a hot start for the expansion team.
Toronto Tempo suddenly look like one of the WNBA’s most dangerous offensive teams originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Toronto Tempo entered the WNBA season with curiosity surrounding their roster construction, but five games into the year, something much more serious may be developing.
They can absolutely score with anybody. Tuesday night’s 98-90 road win over the Phoenix Mercury was the clearest example yet of what Toronto could become when its backcourt catches fire. Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey combined for 61 points, burying Phoenix with perimeter shooting and relentless offensive pressure in one of the most explosive performances by any WNBA duo this season.
And the scary part for the rest of the league is how sustainable parts of it looked. Brittney Sykes is playing like an offensive engine Sykes finished with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists while shooting 10-for-19 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. But beyond the numbers, it was the pace and control she played with that stood out most.
Toronto repeatedly trusted her to initiate offense in big moments, and Phoenix never consistently slowed her downhill attacks. Whether she was getting to the rim, creating contact or collapsing the defense for kick-out opportunities, Sykes dictated the game for long stretches. That matters because Toronto’s ceiling may depend on whether Sykes can consistently operate as a primary offensive creator rather than simply an energy player or defensive specialist.