The Toronto Tempo currently holds a 10-14 record in the league, and much of it can be attributed to their unfortunate injury luck.

However, slowly but surely, things are turning over a new leaf in Toronto, as the likes of Kiki Rice, Temi Fagbenle, and Brittney Sykes are all in recovery.

According to head coach Sandy Brondello, Rice, who got a Grade 3 left ankle sprain in June, has participated in non-contact parts of practice but won't be returning before the All-Star Game break.

Meanwhile, Fagbenle is currently on concussion protocol but fully participated in team practice. Sykes is another guard who suffered a left plantar fascia injury last month and is currently recovering while doing solo work.

Following their 79-62 loss against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday, Brondello nodded in sad agreement as Toronto Tempo guard Julie Allemand vented about their team’s injury woes.

It was the Tempo's lowest points total in its inaugural season as the team tried to soldier on without Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice, and Temi Fagbenle.

“We miss them on the court, and we can’t wait for them to be back because, I think since the beginning of the season, I’m wondering if we had one game with the full roster,” Allemand said.

“This is insane, and this is sad also because, like, imagine if we have the full roster. It would be great." She added.

With an injury-ravaged team, the Tempo had no choice but make an immediate signing for some control over the squad

Toronto Signs Canadian Kayla Alexander to a Second 7-Day Deal

Before joining Tempo a week ago, Kayla Alexander did not play in the WNBA in the last six seasons.

Both parties agreed on a seven-day deal on Thursday, the same day that she had her first practice with her new teammates, even though she had already played two games with Toronto. Alexander said it's taken a lot of work to get up to speed.

"Just trying to read the playbook as much as possible," the 35-year-old center said after practice at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

"Ask your teammates and coaches a lot of questions. Watch as much film as you can, and then just honestly, I'm just trying not to overthink it because I feel like you play your best basketball when you just flow."

As the Tempo are currently without three key players, a hardship contract allows a team to temporarily exceed its roster and salary cap limits to sign a replacement player when it has fewer than 10 available players.

Alexander can provide the squad depth the Tempo needs as of now with her experience.

Drafted eighth overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars (now the Las Vegas Aces) in 2013, she played five seasons in Texas before stops with the Indiana Fever, the Chicago Sky, and most recently the Minnesota Lynx in 2020.

But the road ahead could not get any tougher for the Tempo, who are about to face Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream on Friday and then the Las Vegas Aces on Monday.

So, do you think Kayla Alexander will make a difference for the Tempo in the upcoming games? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy