The Toronto Tempo’s debut WNBA season took a gut punch Wednesday night, with a 93-82 loss to the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena officially eliminating them from playoff contention. That brutal defeat marked their twelfth consecutive loss, a staggering run that has completely derailed a season that, on July 12, saw them knocking off the New York Liberty 93-91 and holding onto improbable playoff hopes. Now, just five weeks later, they’re still searching for win number 11, and the playoff dream is officially dead.
The Epic Freefall
Talk about a collapse! The Tempo’s twelve straight losses have sent them spiraling down the standings, bringing their season record to a painful 10-25. This isn’t just a bad stretch; it’s pushing them dangerously close to an all-time WNBA record. The 2008 Atlanta Dream, another expansion team, holds that unenviable title with 17 consecutive losses on their way to a 4-30 finish. For a squad that had just secured their 10th win mid-July, this is a tough pill to swallow. The defense has been a major culprit, with the Tempo ranking 15th in points allowed per game and 15th in defensive efficiency. You can’t win when you’re giving up that much.
A Season’s Turning Point, A Future’s Bright Spot
The season really took a nosedive when All-Star guard Brittney Sykes went down with a foot injury on June 16 in a loss to the Indiana Fever. She missed a whopping 18 games over the next two months, only returning Tuesday night. What happened during her absence? Toronto lost 15 of those 18 games! That’s the definition of a turning point. Despite Sykes’ return and an All-Star season from Marina Mabrey, plus some promising flashes from rookie Kiki Rice, the Tempo just couldn’t claw their way back.
So, what’s the silver lining in all this heartbreak? The WNBA Draft, baby! This epic losing streak, while painful, has actually put the Tempo in an incredible position to land a top pick in next year’s loaded draft. They’ve got the second-best odds for the first overall pick, a solid 24 percent shot! For Sandy Brondello’s side, this could be exactly what the franchise needs to keep growing into a contender. The playoff dream might be over, but the future is suddenly looking a whole lot brighter with a potential franchise cornerstone on the horizon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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