TORONTO — As the referee raised the ball for its tip-off release, a sold-out crowd of 8,210 stood in unison. All season long, the Toronto Tempo crowd has upheld a tradition of standing until their team hits its first basket. And Sunday, even as losers of 18 of their last 19 games, the fan response didn’t change.
A minute and 45 seconds later, when Laura Juskaite hit the first shot — a speedy drive to the net with a nasty fake on the way — cheers erupted. Toronto settled in to face the New York Liberty for the last home game of its inaugural season.
The Tempo have sold out every game at their home arena; even the top railing behind the last row of stands is filled by fans with standing room only tickets. But Sunday’s home finale didn’t finish the inaugural season on a strong note. The 106-69 loss to the New York Liberty marks the 15th time the Tempo have given up more than 100 points this season.
“Sometimes I think we’re not playing really well, but they’re still loud,” head coach Sandy Brondello joked.
“Canadians have really poured into this team and supported us even through the tough, the adversity that we have faced. We really, really appreciate that, and that’s why I say we want to finish strong because of our fans. It is fan appreciation night, and without the fans, where are we?”
Even with hard outcomes, Juskaite wants these games to still matter because they give the players an opportunity to build for the future.
“Tonight, it’s 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, and our fans cheer for us no matter what,” the rookie said.
“But we are building something more. It’s like a long-term thing, and we should be better.”
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Juskaite achieved a new career-high and had her eighth straight game in double digits with 28 points. She scored more than anyone else on the floor. With her aggressive defense and fight for every rebound, the quiet rookie has become a fan favourite in Toronto. On multiple occasions, she forced her way to the net against a taller Liberty lineup and found extra opportunities at the foul line.
Juskaite went a perfect eight for eight on free throws. In one drive, though, she had to pay a tough price — she slid to the ground and scuffed her face. She walked into the post-game press conference with a fresh scab on her upper lip.
“They’re good players. I think we’re very intentional about what kind of players we want to bring in and their character,” Brondello said of her team. “What we do is hard. So if you can’t embrace hard, I mean, you probably shouldn’t be in this league.”
Breanna Stewart, in front of an away stadium sprinkled with her jersey, showed up for her first game in Toronto with 27 points.
It was an interesting dynamic for Brondello as she closed out the home portion of Toronto’s season against her former team. She kicked off the night with high praise for her former player.
“One of my favorite players to ever coach in the whole wide world is Stewie. People have to see the work that she puts in to see her greatness, and a lot of the work is unseen,” Brondello said before the game.
The Tempo fans have started their own traditions and formed their own characters over the inaugural season. One of these hallmarks has been ‘Hawaiian Shirt Guy.’ The colorfully-clad court-side regular appeared in an interview with the in-arena host at the end of half-time. There, he helped set the tone for the outpouring of support that followed.
“Our fan base is incredible. I mean, not only here, but in Montreal, Vancouver, all across Canada. Like we feel the love, we feel the energy. I think, you know, this is definitely one of the best environments that people can come and play in,” Kiki Rice, who had 19 points in the loss, said.
Toronto Raptors star Scotty Barnes and his family also sat court side — a powerful representation of how Toronto’s NBA counterpart has embraced the team and shown support all season long.
Down 22 points as the game moved into its final five minutes, the Tempo fans maintained their support with ‘D-fence’ chants and continued excitement over every bucket scored. The embarrassment on the scoreboard made the enthusiasm even more remarkable.
Fan excitement also found a way to the injured Tempo players. During a long coaches’ challenge and timeout in the second quarter, Marina Mabrey started grooving along to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” as it played through the loudspeakers. Of course, the Canadian fans got a kick out of that one.
Zaay Green also got a round of applause when she entered for the first time all night with three minutes to go. Green just received a regular-season contract after being converted from a developmental role because of roster hardship. The fan base in Toronto isn’t just a casual group that shows up because it’s the new thing in town; there’s a level of knowledge and care about the team and players that makes the support more permanent.
The Tempo’s last game in Toronto ended the same way their first started, with the fans up for a standing ovation that lasted over a minute. After the buzzer, the Tempo squad gathered at centre court and Brittney Sykes had a goodbye message for the fans.
“Tempo fans, we just want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for the season.”
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