As the first stage of training camp winds down and preseason WNBA games begin, the Toronto Tempo are steadily preparing to make their official debut in the league. While many teams kicked off their exhibition games on Saturday, the Tempo won’t take the court until Wednesday. Those extra days are not being taken for granted, as the franchise finds its footing and continues building culture.
Inevitably, roster cuts will have to start happening, though. Toronto doesn’t even have all of its players at camp yet, as Julie Allemand, Maria Conde and Nina Milic are finishing their overseas seasons. Decisions will start to be made with little time to see the whole roster together, but that’s the normal process in this league.
The twist this year, though, is the fact that each WNBA team now has two developmental spots to fill on top of the 12 regular roster spots. That adds another layer of decision-making to this process, as teams need to evaluate who they can bring on in those roles.
“When you put a team together, you just want to make sure the puzzle fits,” Brondello said in a recent training camp media availability. “Do we have enough playmaking, do we have enough rebounding, toughness, shooting? Figuring out how they all work together. Every year it gets harder and harder.”
As an influx of talent continues to stream into the WNBA not just from the NCAA, but also from all over the world as the league globalizes, these decisions have only gotten tougher.
“We’ll just be really thoughtful these next few days, lean into that preseason game … and we’ll build from there,” Brondello added.
Someone the Tempo may be considering for either a final roster spot or a developmental spot is Dara Mabrey. The youngest Mabrey sister is going through her first WNBA training camp after going undrafted a few seasons ago, with her sister Marina by her side. The two are competitive in practice with each other, bantering and pushing each other’s buttons — but all from a place of love and support, Brondello noted. Described as “tough” by head coach Sandy Brondello, Dara has been showing out in camp, bringing her confident personality to the mix. She’s certainly a fan favorite to stick around the team.
“When you’re coming in here, you have to come with confidence, and she has that, especially offensively,” Brondello said in praise of Dara. “She’s made some really big shots… I’ve been happy with how she’s played.”
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Nyara Sabally is one player who does not have to worry about being cut from the roster, as her contract is one of a handful that are guaranteed. Sabally was chosen in the expansion draft from Brondello’s former team, the New York Liberty, and is apparently the healthiest she’s been since entering the WNBA.
Brondello is excited for her to have a bigger role in Toronto than she had in New York. Famous among Brooklyn fans for her performance in the 2024 WNBA Finals, which ultimately led to the Liberty’s first championship, Sabally has had to play behind players like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. Now, she will get more freedom to carve out a bigger role for herself here.
“Nyara has learned how to be a pro [from Stewart and Jones],” Brondello said. “That’s why we are really excited for this opportunity for her here, to have a bigger role. She feels healthy, and you see her being a veteran leader out there, having played with both Olaf and me.”
Another theme of Toronto’s camp has been the emphasis on both defensive energy and shooting. Every player has commented at some point about wanting to be known as a team for their defensive energy, and knowing that that effort will help them have more offensive power. They also have plenty of shooters on the team — Marina Mabrey, of course, but Aaliyah Nye, Kia Nurse, Kiki Rice and Dara Mabrey have been a few other players making big shots in training camp.
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We’re still at the point in the process where there are more questions than answers with this roster, but Brondello urges patience. It will take time (even into the regular season) for things to fully settle, for the roster to solidify, and for people to get used to the systems being put in place.
Luckily for players whom Brondello has coached, she keeps things pretty uniform, no matter what city she is coaching in. According to Nurse, Sabally and Isabelle Harrison (all players whom Brondello coached in either New York or Phoenix), the system is pretty similar.
“We have the exact same plays, maybe they have different names now,” Nurse laughed when asked if Brondello had changed since the two were in Phoenix together. “She does a good job of creating relationships with everyone, and she has her own understanding of what each player needs to succeed.”
While it will be hard to see players get cut, it’s a necessary part of getting to the beginning of the regular season, which will tip off in under two weeks. The Tempo will hold their media day on April 27, play their first home preseason game against the Sun on April 29, and hit the road for the first time to face Minnesota on May 1. The final roster is due right before the season officially begins on May 8.