The Toronto Tempo have been going through a brutal stretch. Until last night, they hadn’t won a single game in over a month and strung together 12 losses. They finally beat the Portland Fire behind a 25-point double-double from Isabelle Harrison. Rookie Kiki Rice also played a strong game with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Rice, who missed a lot of time with an injury in June and July, put together an impressive five-game stretch, but it has flown under the radar with the Tempo’s many losses—although all of them came against established playoff teams and were relatively close games.
Over the last five games, Rice averaged 15.8 points on very efficient shooting, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Perhaps most impressively, she has dished out a total of 23 assists and only turned the ball over four times. And she did it all against the Dream, Wings, Fever, and Mystics—four of the eight best teams in the W, including the second-best defense in the league.
Despite the 1-4 record, Rice’s performances over the last five games are a reminder of how much better the Tempo could be with a healthy roster—and how much better they should be in Rice’s second season next year.
Toronto had to deal with too many injuries this season
Brittney Sykes, Rice, Nyara Sabally, Harrison, Julie Allemand, and Temi Fagbenle all missed time with injuries this season. Many of them were out at the same time as well, and the injuries were just too much to overcome for the Tempo.
One can’t help but wonder where the Tempo would be if at least Sykes and Rice had been healthy all season long. They may actually be challenging the Dallas Wings for the final playoff spot now instead of being eliminated from postseason contention. Nevertheless, losing as much as they have isn’t as bad as it may seem. It means the Tempo will get another high draft pick to pair with Rice in what promises to be a strong 2027 draft class.
With Rice, Aneesah Morrow, and a lottery pick coming in, the Tempo have a good young foundation to build around. Moreover, Sykes and Mabrey are still under contract for next season. With some more injury luck, the Tempo will be much more competitive next season, and Rice will be a big part of it.
After all the injuries, this may not be the first season the organization or Rice dreamed of, but it’s fair to say that the Tempo nailed their first-ever draft pick and the UCLA alum has a bright future ahead of her in Toronto. When healthy, Rice has easily looked like one of the best five picks in this year’s draft.
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