Set The Tempo

The Toronto Tempo were already shorthanded — and then they lost The Chef.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 89-80 loss to the Phoenix Mercury at Scotiabank Arena, a game defined by who wasn’t on the floor.

Just two days after tying the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points, Marina Mabrey missed the game with neck spasms, joining Brittney Sykes and Kiki Rice on the injury list.

Without their three-headed offensive engine, Toronto still had chances, but could not get enough stops or enough shot creation late.<...

What a birthday present from The Chef.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to one of the greatest performances in WNBA history as Marina Mabrey ties the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points in Toronto’s massive 125-97 win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Mabrey was unstoppable, finishing with:

🔥 53 points🔥 17-of-28 from the field🔥 9 made threes🔥 10-of-12 from the free throw line🔥 6 rebounds🔥 +36

With Brittney Sykes and Kiki Rice still out, Toronto needed a statement — and Mabrey delivered one of the best games the league has ever seen.

🚨 In this...

Another tough one against Atlanta.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 94-87 loss to the Atlanta Dream, a game that started ugly, got briefly interesting, but ultimately showed the gap between the shorthanded Tempo and one of the WNBA’s strongest teams.

Toronto fell behind 33-15 after the first quarter, battled back in stretches, but never fully recovered from the early hole.

The positives?Izzy Harrison had her best all-around game as a Tempo player, Niara Sabally returned to the lineup, and Temi Fagbenle gave Toronto some...

Money Mabrey delivered exactly when Toronto needed her most.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to the Toronto Tempo’s wild 101-97 comeback win over the Connecticut Sun, powered by a career-high 37 points from Marina Mabrey.

With Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice and Nyara Sabally all out of the lineup, Toronto looked dead in the water after falling behind by 20. But Mabrey caught fire, dropped 23 points in the fourth quarter, and dragged the Tempo back to .500.

And she wasn’t alone.

Temi Fagbenle also had a career night, fini...

This one felt bigger than the final score.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 113-91 loss to the Indiana Fever — a game overshadowed by a scary non-contact injury to Brittney Sykes in the third quarter.

The Tempo were competitive in the first half, trailing by just three at the break, but everything changed after Sykes went down. Indiana took control behind huge performances from Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Aaliyah Boston, and Sophie Cunningham, handing Toronto its third straight loss.

Now the conversation shifts from one game to a...

That one got ugly fast.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s rough 102-77 loss to the Atlanta Dream, a game that started with promise before completely slipping away.

The Tempo jumped out to a 25-13 first-quarter lead, but Atlanta responded with a massive second quarter, took control, and never looked back.

The biggest storyline?Izzy Harrison was ejected after a physical battle with Angel Reese, ending what had been one of the few bright spots for Toronto.

🚨 In this episode:

😬 Toronto Drops Second S...

That one hurts.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s heartbreaking 86-85 loss to the Washington Mystics after Sonia Citron hit a last-second buzzer beater to steal the game.

Toronto trailed by as many as 18 points, mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, and briefly took the lead in the final seconds before Washington answered with the dagger.

The Tempo showed resilience — but the bigger issue was inconsistency.

🚨 In this episode:

💔 Buzzer-Beater Heartbreak

* Toronto loses 86-85 in Washington

* Sonia Citron hits the game-w...

That was a rollercoaster.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s wild 106-102 overtime win over the Connecticut Sun — the first overtime victory in franchise history.

It was not supposed to be that hard.

After an ugly first half where Toronto struggled defensively, got hammered on the glass, and trailed by 11 at halftime, the Tempo found a way to claw back behind another massive performance from Brittney Sykes.

Sykes tied her career high with 38 points, added 4 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, and helped drag Toronto acro...

Welcome back, Izzy Harrison.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s convincing 85-68 win over the Chicago Sky in the Tempo’s first Commissioner’s Cup game of the season.

With Kiki Rice sidelined by injury, Toronto desperately needed a frontcourt boost — and Isabelle Harrison delivered immediately.

In just 17 minutes, Harrison finished with:

🔥 14 points🔥 6 rebounds🔥 2 assists🔥 +15

Her return completely changed the look of the Tempo offense, giving Toronto a true stretch big and a veteran frontcourt presence they’ve been missing all season.

🚨 In this episode...

The Toronto Tempo ran into their toughest test of the season — and it came with a major scare.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 97-82 loss to the New York Liberty, a game that was overshadowed late by an ankle injury to rookie guard Kiki Rice.

The Tempo started strong, but New York’s size, experience, and frontcourt dominance eventually took over. Jonquel Jones was the story of the night, putting up a massive performance inside as Toronto’s ongoing frontcourt issues showed up again.

🚨 In this episod...

That is how you win a basketball game.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s dominant 93-72 win over the Seattle Storm, giving the Tempo their second victory over Seattle this season and moving the expansion team above .500 at 5-4.

After a sloppy second quarter, Toronto exploded in the second half, outscoring Seattle 56-36 after halftime and turning a tight game into a 21-point statement win.

The Tempo got contributions across the board, but once again, rookie guard Kiki Rice looked like one of the most reliable pl...

The Toronto Tempo are back in the win column 🇨🇦🏀

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 111-104 road win over the Chicago Sky — a massive bounce-back performance after two straight ugly losses.

The star of the night?🔥 Nyara Sabally, who exploded for a career-high 29 points and helped answer one of the biggest questions surrounding the Tempo: can they find enough frontcourt production?

Toronto improves to 4-4 on the season, with three of their four wins coming on the road.

🚨 In this episode:

🔥 Nyara Sabally Career Night<...

Back-to-back rough nights for the Toronto Tempo.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 99-80 loss to the Portland Fire in the first-ever WNBA expansion matchup between the two new franchises.

After a strong first half, the Tempo fell apart after the break as Portland’s depth, rebounding, and three-point shooting took over. Toronto once again struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 6-of-25 from three, while Portland’s bench outscored the Tempo reserves 42-20.

The biggest bright spot?🌟 Kiki Rice continues to look like the future of the fr...

The Toronto Tempo winning streak is over — and this one was ugly.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 100-72 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, ending the Tempo’s two-game winning streak and dropping the expansion franchise back to .500.

After back-to-back statement wins over the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury, Toronto came crashing back down in Minnesota with one of their roughest performances of the season.

The Tempo lived by the three in recent wins… but against the Lynx, they died by it.

🚨 In this episod...

Don’t look now… but the Toronto Tempo are ABOVE .500 🇨🇦🏀

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s HUGE 98-90 victory over the Phoenix Mercury — the second straight win for the expansion franchise and arguably their most impressive performance yet.

Facing a Mercury team loaded with stars and missing multiple key players themselves, the Tempo leaned on their now-famous “million-dollar backcourt” and got another breakout performance from rookie Kiki Rice.

🔥 Marina Mabrey: 30 points🔥 Brittney Sykes: 31 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists🌟 Kiki Rice: 15 points, 7 rebounds, +13

This team is starting to look LEGIT.

🚨 In this...

The Toronto Tempo are officially rolling 🇨🇦🏀

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s HUGE 106-96 win over the Los Angeles Sparks — the first road victory in franchise history.

After dropping the first matchup against LA just two nights earlier, the Tempo responded with their most complete performance of the young season, setting a franchise scoring record with 106 points.

And leading the charge?

🔥 Brittney Sykes with a CAREER-HIGH 38 points🌟 Kiki Rice impressing again in her first career start💪 Toronto showing serious resilience on the road

🚨 In this episode:<...

The Toronto Tempo showed serious resilience… but the early deficit was too much to overcome.

In this episode of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s 99-95 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in the franchise’s first-ever road game.

After falling behind 21-2 in the first quarter, the Tempo battled all the way back and cut the lead to just two late in the fourth quarter before Kelsey Plum slammed the door shut.

Despite the loss, there were encouraging signs:🌟 Kiki Rice continues improving🔥 Brittney Sykes stuffed the stat sheet📈 Toronto’s bench...

The Toronto Tempo have officially arrived 🇨🇦🏀

In Episode 14 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to Toronto’s FIRST-EVER regular season win after defeating the Seattle Storm 86-73 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

And once again… it was the Marina Mabrey show.

🔥 26 points🔥 6 made threes🔥 4 steals

But the biggest development may have been rookie Kiki Rice, who looked FAR more comfortable offensively in her second WNBA game.

Toronto’s offense exploded after struggling badly in the opener against Washington, and now the Tempo head into a difficult West Coast road trip with momentum.

🚨 I...

The Toronto Tempo era has officially begun 🇨🇦🏀

In the first-ever Set The Tempo postgame reaction episode, Tyler Conium breaks down Toronto’s heartbreaking 68-65 loss to the Washington Mystics in the first regular season game in franchise history.

Despite the loss, there were a TON of positives:🔥 Marina Mabrey looked like a superstar🌟 Kiki Rice made her WNBA debut🧠 Julie Allemand quietly controlled the game🇨🇦 Toronto fans absolutely brought the energy

But there were also clear growing pains:📉 27% shooting from the field🏀 Lack of frontcourt size⚡ Offensive chemistry still developing

🚨 In this episode:

🇨🇦 Toronto Offici...

The wait is over — the Toronto Tempo officially tip off their first WNBA season.

In Episode 11 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium previews the 2026 season, breaks down the roster, and sets expectations ahead of Opening Night vs the Washington Mystics.

This also marks the final preseason episode — with daily postgame shows starting immediately.

🚨 In this episode:

🏀 Opening Night Is HERE

* Toronto Tempo vs Washington Mystics (May 8)

📊 Toronto Tempo Season Preview

* Why Toronto chose to compete instead of rebuild

🔥 The Big 3 (Core Players)

* Marina Mabry...

🚨 In this episode:

🎥 Media Day = “It’s Real Now”

* First full look at players in uniform

🌆 Toronto Is Showing OUT

* Players already feeling the love from fans

🏀 Training Camp Battles & Rotation

* Sandy Brondello targeting a tight 9-player rotation

⚡ Positionless Basketball?

* Tempo leaning into fast-paced, versatile play

📊 Year 1 Expectations: PLAYOFFS?

* Coaching staff says the goal is to compete immediately

🧠 Culture & Identity (Sandy Brondello)

* Player-first coaching philosophy

🇨🇦 Adapting to Toronto

* Players embracing the city, culture & fanbase

🌟...

The Toronto Tempo are officially on the floor.

Training camp is underway, the roster is taking shape, and expectations are starting to build ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.

In Episode 9 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down everything from early training camp storylines to the franchise’s long-term vision — including a massive new facility announcement.

🚨 In this episode:

🏀 Training Camp Begins (First Look at the Tempo)

* First-ever Toronto Tempo training camp at University of Toronto

🌟 Kiki Rice Early Buzz

* Why she’s already looking like the face o...

The Toronto Tempo have their franchise player.

In Episode 8 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium reacts to the WNBA Draft, breaks down the selection of Kiki Rice at #6 overall, and analyzes how the Tempo roster is shaping up just weeks before the 2026 season.

🚨 In this episode:

🏀 Kiki Rice = Face of the Franchise

* Why Kiki Rice was the perfect pick at #6

* NCAA Champion + elite leadership pedigree

* Why she could be Toronto’s point guard for the next decade

* Comparing her impact to early Raptors-era stars

😳 Draf...

The Toronto Tempo finally have a roster — and it might be better than expected.

In Episode 7 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down the full expansion draft results, reacts to the shocking Angel Reese trade, and looks ahead to the WNBA Draft where Toronto holds the #6 pick.

🚨 In this episode:

🏀 Toronto Tempo Expansion Draft REACTION

* Why the draft “could have been an email”

🔥 Core Roster Breakdown

* Julie Allemand as the franchise floor general

* Marina Mabrey as the go-to scorer

* Nyara Sabally anchoring the frontcourt<...

The WNBA Expansion Draft is here — and the Toronto Tempo are about to build their first-ever roster.

In Episode 6 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down everything you need to know before Friday’s draft, plus a massive ownership announcement that changes the future of the franchise.

Masai Ujiri Joins Toronto Tempo

* What his presence means for building a winning franchise

🏀 Expansion Draft Preview (April 1–6)

* Why Toronto chose the #1 pick in the entry draft over expansion priority

🤔 Strategy: Build Fast or Build Smart?

* Should Toronto go a...

The WNBA’s new CBA is officially ratified — and now the real chaos begins.

In Episode 5 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down what happens next as the league races toward the 2026 season tip-off on May 8.

With the business side nearly settled, the focus finally shifts to basketball, roster building, and expansion strategy.

In this episode:

🚨 CBA Officially Done

* What ratification means for the league moving forward

* Salary cap jump: $1.5M → $7M+

* Supermax contracts ($1.4M) and roster construction challenges

🌆 Expansion is BOOMING

* Cleve...

The WNBA finally has a new CBA agreement in place — and it changes everything.

In Episode 4 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down the massive financial shift coming to the league and what happens next as we race toward the 2026 season.

With the deal framework agreed upon (pending ratification), the WNBA is entering a new era:

💰 Salary cap rising from $1.5M → $7M (and beyond $10M)💰 Supermax contracts jumping to $1.4M💰 Average salaries increasing nearly 10x💰 Players finally earning a share of league revenue

But now comes the chaos…

🏀 What happens next:

In Episode 3 of Set The Tempo, Tyler Conium breaks down the latest WNBA CBA proposal, what it means for max contracts, and why this moment could define the future of women’s basketball.

With a potential work stoppage looming, the league has introduced a proposal that could:

* Fast-track max contracts for stars like Caitlin Clark

* Raise the salary cap from $1.4M to $5.75M

* Increase average salaries from $120K to $540K

* Create a new revenue-sharing structure

But the biggest debate remains: gross revenue vs. net revenue sharing.

...

In Episode 2 of Set the Tempo, host Tyler Conium runs through Round 1 of the latest ESPN WNBA Mock Draft and breaks down what it could mean for the Toronto Tempo’s first-ever draft selection—with Toronto and Portland projected to pick 6th and 7th (coin flip).

With the WNBA CBA still looming over the offseason (no expansion draft, no free agency yet), Tyler shifts the focus to what we can talk about right now: draft projections, prospect fits, and how Toronto can build a foundation fast.

🏀 What’s inside:

* Why the CBA delay is slowin...

Welcome to Set the Tempo, a Toronto Tempo–focused WNBA podcast hosted by Tyler Conium.

In the debut episode, Tyler breaks down the biggest issue facing the WNBA right now: ongoing CBA negotiations and the very real possibility of a lockout or strike ahead of the 2026 season.

With league expansion accelerating, star power at an all-time high, and Toronto preparing for its first season, this episode dives into why this moment is a turning point for the league—and why the players may hold more leverage than the league realizes.

🔥 In this episode:

...

Set The Tempo with Tyler Conium is a podcast dedicated to the Toronto Tempo and the rise of women’s basketball in Canada.

From CBA negotiations and roster building to the expansion draft, WNBA Draft, and free agency, we break down every move shaping Toronto’s newest franchise.

Once the season begins, tune in for fresh episodes after every game day, featuring game recaps, player performances, coaching decisions, and league-wide storylines that matter.

Smart analysis. Real conversation. A Toronto perspective.

This is where the Tempo begins.