It’s Media Day throughout the WNBA world and the new Canadian team, the Toronto Tempo, had theirs this week. The unknown has been exhilarating. A new team, a new roster, and a new environment make it exciting not only for the basketball media but most certainly for the new fandom in Canada. The most notable new member of the team is Marina Mabrey, who captures excitement on and off the court. Mabrey’s fearless mentality on the court will be something to look for in the upcoming 2026 season.
Toronto Tempo’s Media Day
Brittney Sykes and Mabrey attended Media Day this week, filled with joy, playfulness, and opportunities to learn about the city and country. The new teammates have known each other since high school, and now they have an opportunity to lead this young Toronto team to new heights. They have the potential to be the franchise players. Both Mabrey and Sykes stated they are still adjusting to the new city and that the people are friendly and welcoming. Sykes also mentioned that fans yelling their names is something to get used to.
Sykes continued to speak on how the fans, “Have so much love for us, and we haven’t even dribbled the basketball.” This speaks volumes about the team’s and the organization’s excitement. Brittney raved about how excellent the organization has been to the players. Sykes stated, “They have been great.” Sykes spoke about Toronto treating them as professionals and providing them with anything they need; the team is there for them.
Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes on Leadership in Toronto
Mabrey and Sykes are welcoming the role of leaders for this team with open arms. Marina stated, “Picking and choosing when to speak and when to be a leader.” She continued, “There is a balance between accountability and giving people confidence.” They both agreed that being a leader is a good challenge and they are there to help the young players. They are fully embracing their roles as the “chosen” players for this franchise. After years in the league, they still see each other as “underdogs.”
The Toronto Tempo team has engaged in various bonding activities to strengthen their connections. Marina and Sykes recently attended a Toronto Raptors playoff game and described it as one of their most enjoyable experiences as members of the team. They also shared that they have participated in games like “Two Truths and a Lie” during their team bonding events.
Canada Basketball Roster: Toronto Tempo
On Thursday, the Tempo announced that they have waived three players: Kristy Wallace, Maddy Rocci, and Dara Mabrey. Unfortunately, this means that the sister duo of Dara and Marina will not be making their debut in the 2026 WNBA season. As a result, the Toronto team now has 16 players remaining on its roster. Each team is required to maintain a 12-player active roster. However, with the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), two development players have been added per team, allowing each team to carry a total of 14 players.
The following are the remaining players for Toronto:
- Julie Allemand
- Maria Conde
- Nyara Sabally
- Lexi Held
- Nikolina Milic
- Aaliyah Nye
- Laura Juskaite
- Kiki Rice
- Teonni Key
- Kitija Laksa
- Marina Mabrey
- Elizabeth Balogun
- Kia Nurse
- Temi Fágbénlé
- Brittney Sykes
- Isabelle Harrison
Head Coach Sandy Brondello and her staff must waive two players in the coming weeks.
The Tempo played a preseason game at home on Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun, but unfortunately, they lost the game 83-78. Toronto’s next game is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at 8 PM, where they will face the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center in Minneapolis. Minneapolis.
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