Valkyries Hold Off Tempo Again
The Toronto Tempo's growing pains continued this week after the WNBA expansion franchise fell 92-82 to the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night, marking the second consecutive loss to the same opponent in as many games.
Golden State's Janelle Salaun was the standout performer, pouring in 21 points to lead all scorers. Kayla Thornton was right behind her with 20 points of her own, torching Toronto with two quick 3-pointers early and two more to open the second half — a stretch that effectively put the game out of reach for the visitors.
A Tough Stretch for Canada's Newest Franchise
Toronto Tempo fans have had plenty to be excited about since the team's WNBA debut brought professional women's basketball back to the country in a big way. But results on the court have been harder to come by lately, with this back-to-back set against Golden State highlighting some of the growing pains that come with fielding a first-year roster against more established opponents.
The Valkyries, themselves a relatively new franchise, showed the kind of poise and depth scoring that Toronto is still working to build. Golden State's ability to string together quick offensive bursts — particularly Thornton's flurry of triples — proved to be the difference in a game that was competitive for long stretches.
Why It Matters for Canadian Basketball
The Tempo's season has been closely watched across the country as the first WNBA team based in Canada, giving fans from coast to coast a new team to rally behind, including plenty of hoops-loving Ontarians. While the standings haven't gone Toronto's way in this recent stretch, the novelty and momentum of having a hometown WNBA squad continues to draw attention nationwide.
The franchise's on-court struggles are a familiar story for expansion teams finding their identity in a new league, and there's reason for patience as the roster gains more experience together. Toronto will look to snap its skid and get back in the win column as the season progresses, with fans hoping the team can build toward more consistent performances down the stretch.
For now, though, it's back to the drawing board after a second straight defeat at the hands of a red-hot Golden State squad.
Source: CBC Sports
