Fever's Mitchell Too Much for Tempo
The Toronto Tempo came up just short on Tuesday night, falling 101-95 to the Indiana Fever in a game that had plenty of storylines for Canadian basketball fans to chew on. Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell was the story of the night, pouring in a game-high 29 points to lead all scorers and power the Fever to the win.
For the Tempo, Toronto's expansion entry into the WNBA, the loss stings, but it came in a game that also delivered some genuinely good news for the franchise and its growing fanbase across Ontario and the rest of the country.
Sykes Back After Two Months Out
Brittney Sykes made her return to the Tempo lineup after missing roughly two months, and her presence alone was a boost for a team still finding its footing in its inaugural stretch as one of the WNBA's newest clubs. Sykes has been a key piece of Toronto's rotation, and getting her back on the floor gives the Tempo a boost heading into the back half of the season.
While the box score ultimately favoured Indiana, having Sykes back in uniform is arguably the bigger long-term story for a franchise still building its identity in its first year of existence. Expansion teams live and die by continuity, and every game a core player like Sykes is sidelined is a game the roster doesn't get to develop chemistry.
A Growing Moment for Women's Basketball in Canada
The Tempo's arrival has been a significant one for basketball fans across the country, giving Canada its first WNBA franchise and a natural rooting interest for hoops fans well beyond the Greater Toronto Area. Games like Tuesday's — close, competitive, decided by six points against a Fever team that's been one of the league's most-watched thanks to its own roster — are exactly the kind of measuring-stick matchups that will define how quickly Toronto closes the gap on more established franchises.
Mitchell's 29-point outburst was the difference-maker for Indiana, and the Fever were able to hold on down the stretch even as Toronto pushed back. For a Tempo squad still working through the growing pains that come with any first-year team, staying within striking distance of a playoff-calibre Fever roster is a reasonable takeaway, even in a loss.
What's Next
With Sykes back in the fold, the Tempo will look to build momentum in their upcoming games as they continue to establish themselves in a league that's seen surging interest across North America, including here in Ontario. Fans in Ottawa and across the province who have been following the Tempo's debut season will be watching closely to see whether the return of a full-strength roster translates into more wins down the stretch.
Source: CBC News
