The Toronto Tempo made history Friday night—even if the final score wasn't what they'd hoped for. In front of a sold-out, electric crowd at Coca-Cola Coliseum, the Tempo fell 68-65 to the Washington Mystics in their inaugural WNBA season opener. It wasn't always pretty, but for the 8,210 fans packed into the arena, it was unforgettable.
From the opening tip, the energy was palpable. Fans decked out in Tempo bordeaux and blue—or the alternate white "Opening Night" T-shirts waiting at their seats—roared with every play. They booed loudly after a flagrant foul on Sykes late in the third quarter, danced on the Jumbotron during breaks, and erupted when Toronto briefly grabbed the lead. This wasn't just a game; it was a celebration of a city and a country finally getting its own WNBA team.
Among the crowd was season-ticket holder Taylor Naiman, holding a sign that read "Here for History" alongside three Canadian flags. "This is a really special moment for us, in Toronto," she said. "It means a lot." Nearby, Sasha Rennick brought her daughters Alex and Ana, with a sign that said, "This girl has been waiting a lifetime for this," pointing to a childhood photo of herself. "We're a big basketball family," Rennick explained. "I was at the first Raptors game with my dad, and now this is a full-circle moment being at the first Tempo WNBA Canada game." Her daughter Alex held a giant, glittery orange basketball-shaped sign reading "She shoots, she scores."
For these young fans, the night was about more than the final score. "For these little girls growing up, to see these amazing athletes on the court, playing hard... I think we're going to have amazing development of new players here in Canada," Rennick added.
Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello, who joined the team after three seasons with the New York Liberty, acknowledged the mixed emotions. "Sad that we didn't win the game, didn't close it out, but the fans were fantastic," she said. "It was a very ugly game. Hopefully they get way prettier than that as we move forward. Both teams have a lot of work to do, but we grounded out."
The Tempo are part of a rapidly growing WNBA, now featuring 15 franchises. Their debut marks a new chapter for Canadian basketball—one that fans hope will inspire a new generation of players and fans alike. Even in defeat, the night was a win for the sport.