The Toronto Tempo just suspended key starter Julie Allemand’s contract, and guess who’s up next on their schedule? Our very own Seattle Storm! This isn’t just a routine roster shuffle; it means Toronto is going to be without one of their most important guards for Wednesday’s road game right here in the Emerald City, creating a massive challenge for an expansion team already struggling through August.
A Major Hole Just Opened Up in Toronto’s Lineup
Allemand’s departure is officially a procedural move, not a disciplinary action, as she’s left the team to join Belgium for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. She’s expected back with the Tempo after the tournament wraps up. But make no mistake, even a temporary absence from a player like Allemand leaves a gaping hole. She’s been a foundational piece for Toronto this season, averaging 6.3 points, 5.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 29 appearances. Starting 27 of those games and logging 28.7 minutes per contest, she’s absolutely crucial to how their offense operates, consistently creating opportunities for her teammates. Without her, they’re going to have to totally rethink their offensive strategy on the fly.
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse For Toronto, Better For Our Storm
This move comes at the absolute worst time for Toronto, hitting them right before a brutal three-game road stretch. First up is our Seattle Storm on Wednesday. Then, they head to face the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, followed by a visit to the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. The league then pauses for the World Cup from August 31 through September 17. Allemand is expected to represent Belgium during the September 4-13 tournament, so she’s not coming back anytime soon. This short-handedness is a massive blow for a Tempo squad that’s already reeling. They’ve dropped eight of their nine August games, including an 88-78 loss to Las Vegas on Sunday, pushing their record to a rough 11-26. They’ve already been eliminated from playoff contention, but that doesn’t make these games meaningless.
What This Means for Toronto’s Season and Our Matchup
While Toronto might be playing for pride and future evaluation, these final games are still huge for them to figure out rotations and identify core players for their second season. Allemand is definitely one of those players, especially with her playmaking. But for now, they need a whole new plan to organize their offense. For us in Seattle, facing a Tempo team without its starting point guard, particularly one as effective at creating opportunities as Allemand, is absolutely something to note. It’s an advantage for our Storm, plain and simple. Allemand’s next opportunity to suit up for Toronto isn’t until September 18 against the Indiana Fever. Until then, our Seattle Storm need to capitalize on this situation and make a statement against a struggling, short-handed opponent. Let’s get loud, Emerald City, and show them what Seattle basketball is all about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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