Toronto Tempo 2027 off-season agenda: Draft lottery, free agency and team needs - Toronto Star
Toronto isn’t expected to overhaul its roster but could add a franchise player if the lottery balls fall the right way.
Toronto Tempo’s Kia Nurse (left) is guarded by Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers in an August game.
With the WNBA Finals wrapping up Saturday night, the Toronto Tempo’s first full off-season begins with some looming decisions.
After an injury-riddled season left the Tempo at the bottom of the standings, general manager Monica Wright Rogers will have her hands full to improve the roster. Toronto isn’t expected to overhaul, but could add a franchise centrepiece if the draft lottery balls fall the right way.
Here are the main items on the agenda ahead of the 2027 season.
Southern California guard Juju Watkins is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA draft if she declares.
Toronto has a 32.9 per cent chance at the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, tied with the Houston Comets (formerly the Connecticut Sun) for the best odds with 329 of the 1,000 combinations apiece, the league revealed Wednesday.
Only the first two spots are up for grabs for the six lottery teams, so the Tempo are guaranteed at least the fourth pick.
The results will be broadcast on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. on TSN Premium (the same night as the Grey Cup).
Top draft eligibles, if they declare, include USC’s Juju Watkins, Madison Booker of Texas and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. Wright Rogers told the Star that acquiring one of those prospects could change the trajectory of the Tempo.
Toronto has six players under contract for next season — Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice, Aneesah Morrow, Julie Allemand and Teonni Key — and $4,412,420 (U.S.) in salary-cap space available.
Five players are set to hit free agency: Temi Fagbenle, Isabelle Harrison, Kia Nurse, Maria Conde and Nyara Sabally.
It’s unlikely they will bring back Fagbenle, signed to a one-year, $1-million contract after the Tempo struck out on Washington Mystics forward Shakira Austin, who was recently named to the all-WNBA second team and all-defensive first team.
A source, granted anonymity in order to speak freely, told the Star the team shopped Fagbenle during the season but had no suitors. Her season was riddled with injuries; she appeared in 25 of 44 games, averaging 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Nurse, meanwhile, made history as the first Canadian to sign with and play for Canada’s WNBA team. The 30-year-old played a crucial role as a veteran presence in the locker room, but it’s unclear if she’ll return.
Harrison’s ninth WNBA season was arguably her best, averaging a career-high 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game. She’s expected to return as a bench piece.
It was Conde’s first year in the WNBA despite prior attempts to bring in the Spanish player from overseas. Coach Sandy Brondello has said she hopes Conde will return, but it’s unclear.
Sabally is a restricted free agent and recently had arthroscopic surgery on her left knee, but is expected to be fully healthy for next season. She played 24 games in an up-and-down, injury-riddled season and will likely be back given a close relationship with Brondello.
At 28, forward Laura Juskaite emerged as a key rotation piece in her WNBA rookie season, playing all 44 games while averaging 11.3 points, and the Tempo will no doubt look to bring her back.
Only two trades were made at the WNBA deadline and the Tempo were involved in one of them, acquiring Morrow to address rebounding concerns. The front office has been open about wanting to shore up their post presence and improving their overall defence. The Tempo ranked last in the league in blocks and had the worst defensive rating.
It’s unlikely they will address that need in the draft, but one name to monitor in free agency is centre Brittney Griner. Wright Rogers served as assistant GM of the Phoenix Mercury when Griner was their cornerstone. Another to watch is six-foot-six Awak Kuier, who averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench for the Dallas Wings.
Jan. 30-Feb. 3: Window for qualifying offers and core designations
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Libaan Osman is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter for the Star's city team. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca.
