By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
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Include me among those who believed that the Minnesota Vikings would be moving on from linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. at some point in the 2026 offseason. After all, the Vikings defender had been trending poorly after his 2023 explosion as a UDFA add who should have never slipped out of the draft.
Some doubt about him getting retained entered my mind back in March. He was then kept as an RFA. Look for a trade, I (wrongly) insisted. Maybe he would be behind Jake Golday (again, a wrong prediction).
So far, Mr. Pace has been a formidable option as the LB3. Due to missing the team flight down to Tampa Bay while dealing with a family issue, Pace was questionable going into Sunday. The tackle-first, ask-questions-later linebacker found his way down to Florida in time for game action. He had yet another impressive day at the office.
Vikings Defender Ivan Pace Keeps Shining
Pace sees some promising statistics attached to his name for 2026.
The Vikings defender is sitting atop 9 tackles. So, too, does he boast 0.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 1 tackle for loss. He hasn’t yet earned a start, instead getting into the mix for 40 snaps for Brian Flores alongside 76 snaps on special teams. Has DC Brian Flores found an ideal way to use the depth ‘backer? Pace’s snaps have been really strong in 2026.
Note that not every statistic is made equal. Ask the Kirk Cousins haters about the difference between a garbage-time touchdown versus a touchdown to take the lead very late. The same idea can get applied to a tackle by a defender.
Consider, for instance, Pace gobbling up D’Andre Swift in a goal line tackle in Week 2. That play directly impacted Jalen Redmond being able to punch out the football, In turn, Isaiah Rodgers could then recover the fumble, keeping points off the board in what would be a 9-3 Vikings win.
There’s then a terrific blitz from Pace that led to a sack on Baker Mayfield. If you had to explain Pace’s approach to football in an elevator pitch, pulling out this play and showing the video on your phone would be the way to do it.
Check it out:
Go back to the clip of Pace blitzing. Who is tasked with picking up the blitzing linebacker? Tampa Bay’s #88 jersey belongs to the tight end Cade Otten, who is listed as being 6’5″ and 247 pounds. Pace, for curious minds, is listed as being 5’10” and 236 pounds. Demolishing Otton on the way to the quarterback isn’t easy but Pace didn’t have too much trouble.
Expecting Ivan Pace Jr. to become the second coming of Eric Kendricks simply isn’t going to happen. He’s very unlikely to become an all-around ‘backer who can carry Davante Adams down the seam.
What he can be, though, is an attacking defender who does excellent work on specials. As the LB3, that’s super valuable. Put him out there to blitz a ton and to chase down runners. On kickoff and punt coverage, Pace can fly down the field in pursuit of the returner.
The 2026 season sees the 25-year-old Pace Jr. demanding $3,520,000 on the Vikings cap (OTC). He’s proving to be a bargain as somebody who is making timely, impactful plays over and over again.
Hockey Canada has invited 48 players to try out for the women’s world championship team.
An October camp in Quebec City will determine the 25 who will wear the Maple Leaf at the world championship Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.
The world championship has been moved to November from its usual April time slot because of the Professional Women’s Hockey League that runs from November to May.
The United States beat Canada in overtime in both the 2025 world championship final and in February’s Olympic final.
Of the 48 players invited to selection camp, 19 helped Canada to its most recent world title in 2024.
Nine players will attend their first camp with the national women’s team.
Former Philadelphia Eagles guard Mekhi Becton is signing with the Green Bay Packers after working out for the team Monday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.
The move takes a familiar name off the market for Eagles fans who called for a reunion as Philadelphia faced questions along its offensive line. Becton helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl after moving from tackle to right guard during the 2024 season. His size and power made him a valuable part of the line in front of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.
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Becton later left Philadelphia for the Los Angeles Chargers and was a free agent before Green Bay brought him in for Monday’s workout. Fowler reported that the former top-10 draft pick is healthy and that the Packers were seeking reinforcements up front.
For the Eagles, the appeal of a reunion was easy to understand. Landon Dickerson‘s absence has forced interior adjustments, and Becton had already shown he could play guard in Philadelphia. However, the Eagles reported no interest, and Green Bay moved to sign him.
Philadelphia must continue working through its current options while Becton gets his next opportunity with an NFC opponent.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Former Eagles Super Bowl champion Mekhi Becton signing with Packers
Somehow, the Minnesota Vikings are a 3-0 football team. Not many predicted that outcome going into the 2026 season (I certainly didn’t).
VT’s Vikings postgame has plenty to consider following the 23-16 victory over the Buccaneers. Brian Flores had another sizzling day. So did Matt Daniels. What was lacking was Kevin O’Connell’s end of things, a crew that is yet to figure things out. Consider some of the other rapid-fire thoughts.
Vikings Postgame: 6 Quick Thoughts
1 — Decent News for Justin Jefferson
The bad news is that Justin Jefferson sprained his ankle and didn’t come back. The good news is that he was close to doing so.
Kevin O’Connell was reasonably upbeat in his postgame presser. Minnesota’s skipper clarified that Jefferson was close to returning, as the game broadcast suggested when showing #18 trying to test his ankles after getting taped.
What’s sometimes true, though, is that a player is more sore on a Monday than on a Sunday when the adrenaline is pumping. Consider Jefferson questionable, at best, moving into Week 4.
2 — Yet Another Passer Hurt
Yet again, a passer facing off against that Brian Flores defense left the game with an injury. The Vikings are playing clean, physical football. What sets them apart is an unusual level of sophisticated aggression.
Both of Caleb Williams in Week 2 and Baker Mayfield in Week 3 did an admirable job of hanging in there. Eventually, though, it feels like a dam breaking, allowing the waters of pressure to drown the quarterback.
It looks very difficult to leave a game against Flores without having a ton of bumps and bruises.
3 — Will Reichard is Steph Curry
Will Reichard is a beast. The specialist went 3/3 on his field goals and 2/2 on his extra points, doing so with Johnny Hekker as his holder. A pair of those field goals came from beyond 50.
Coach O’Connell referred to him as being Minnesota’s version of Steph Curry. Get the K1 open for a three and just wait for the football to go swoosh.
4 — Nice Bounce Back from Eric Wilson
Early in the game, I made note of a tough Eric Wilson rep when a pulling guard pushed him back before tossing him to the ground. Mr. Wilson then had a fantastic game.
The veteran linebacker finished his day with 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 1 pass defended. He was all over the place, proving vital within the suffocating defensive effort.
5 — Only a Matter of Time
Only a matter of time for Mr. Price. Check it out:
Don’t forget that he was an undrafted add who demanded $0 in guaranteed money. Mr. Price has earned things the whole way through a pile of hard work.
6 — Kyler Murray Had a J.J. McCarthy Day
Not a great day at the office for Kyler Murray.
He finished the Week 3 game having gone 15/29 for 168 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He got sacked 3 times and finished with a 66.5 passer rating. On a few occasions, Murray underthrew the ball when going deep.
Murray isn’t yet a finished product in this offense. Do note, though, that next week’s game will mean roughly 1/4 of the way through the 2026 Vikings season.
Study this one closely.
Non-conference Records Versus Power 4 Teams:
- SEC: 10-2 (Gross)
- Big 12: 5-7
- ACC: 6-9
- Big Ten: 4-10
- Mountain West: 0-7
- Pac-12: 0-12
Preseason expectations are meaningless compared to actual results. The Big Ten has underperformed. Oregon’s loss to Oklahoma State forced a change in perceptions out West.
But it’s a long season.
The Ducks will probably continue building their at-large Playoff resume in Conference play.
That’s a harder task for teams in the Big 12, which rely more on margins of victory to boost their status.
The worst optics from the non-conference season, though, are by far on the Pac-12.
That league’s claim as a “Power Conference” was officially exposed as false. The rebuilt Conference of Champions is nowhere near Power Conference status.
Yet, Boise State’s position as the top Group of 6 team provides the league a path to the Playoff.
Here’s my Power Ranking for the Top Teams in the West for Week 5.
1. Utah (1-0, 4-0) ▲1
Dominant. That’s the best way to describe Utah through the non-conference season.
The second half against Iowa State wasn’t great. But a 31-17 road win in Ames under poor field conditions and bad weather is significant.
Combined with the blowout victories over Arkansas and Utah State, the expectations for Utah are rising for a reason.
Margins of victory will be critical against the lower-tier teams in the Big 12.
2. UCLA (2-0, 4-0) ▲2
It’s time to put UCLA in the Playoff discussion. Bob Chesney has led the Bruins to a 2-0 start in Big Ten play.
Currently undefeated and looking dominant, the program’s respect is growing every week.
The spread in Maryland was just a few points. The 54-3 win provides hope, optimism, and increased expectations.
The program has officially increased its status in the realigned college football world.
3. BYU (1-0, 3-0) ▼2
The timing of BYU’s bye affects the narrative.
Other teams out West gained respectable victories, boosting the resume of its competitors.
That’s just a fact that comes with taking a week off. But the path to the Playoff has always been through winning the Big 12.
Forget the politics of securing an at-large bid. It’s a long season, and the Cougars are in the thick of the Playoff hunt.
4. Oregon (1-0, 3-1) ▲1
The decision to bring in Dylan Raiola as a backup shows Dan Lanning’s skill as a coach. It also shows the extraordinary resources Oregon has at its disposal.
The Ducks did not miss a beat with Raiola. He has experience starting in the Big Ten, and UO has much better personnel surrounding him this time.
Dante Moore’s injury could rally the team for the rest of the season.
The momentum is starting to shift in Oregon’s favor.
5. Boise State (0-0, 3-1) ▲1
Two results helped Boise State this weekend.
The clear victory over Western Michigan proved that the Broncos are the top Group of 6 team in the country. And Oregon’s road victory over USC increased the value of the close defeat in Eugene.
In a lot of ways, BSU is in the driver’s seat for a Playoff run.
But any loss in Pac-12 play would substantially damage the resume.
6. USC (1-1, 4-1) ▼3
The loss at home to Oregon shows that USC has not developed as a program under Lincoln Riley. It’s only one loss, and it doesn’t define the season.
While Dan Lanning’s UO teams have not lost a conference road game since joining the league in 2024, these Ducks seemed beatable.
The loss in the Coliseum shows the Trojans are not elite in the Big Ten.
For a program with as much tradition as USC, the last few years have not been good enough.
7. Arizona (0-1, 3-1) ▲1
Arizona carried the Big 12’s banner and planted it in Pullman.
The difference between the Power 4 and the Group of 6 is depth and special teams. The Wildcats have a strong running back rotation. And hit a 50-plus-yard field goal to seal the game.
The victory over the Cougars dropped the Pac-12 to 0-12 against the Power 4 and 0-6 against the Big 12.
Now, Conference play begins against undefeated Cincinnati.
8. Arizona State (1-0, 2-1) ▲1
Kenny Dillingham had a bye week to prepare for Baylor. The Big 12 home opener provides an opportunity to send a message.
The program’s best win is over Kansas and the loss to Texas A&M looks worse each week.
There’s no resume for ASU to point to. To build it, margins of victory become important.
A strong performance this weekend in Tempe would boost the team’s image.
9. New Mexico (0-0, 3-1) ▲1
That wasn’t even close. New Mexico went into Las Cruces and crushed New Mexico State.
The final score underlines the perception of UNM this season. Moving forward, the Mountain West schedule is favorable for the Lobos.
North Dakota State, UNLV, and Air Force all come to Albuquerque.
It’s a narrow path to the Playoff. But if New Mexico wins out, they will be in the discussion.
10. Washington (0-1, 3-1) ▼3
It’s going to be a long season in Seattle. This is not what the program should look like in Year Three.
Jedd Fisch made a mistake leaving Arizona to take the Washington job.
It’s time for the UW administration to rip the band-aid off now. The longer this process is prolonged, the worse off the program will be.
The Fisch Era in Seattle is over. It’s just a matter of time.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
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The Minnesota Vikings pulled off the win in Tampa Bay to climb up to 3-0. That’s good news.
Unfortunately, some brutal Vikings news arrived this morning.
Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network offered the update on tight end Josh Oliver: “#Vikings TE Josh Oliver is feared to have suffered a torn biceps in Sunday’s game and will have an MRI today determine if that is the case, sources say. Oliver would be out indefinitely if the testing confirms.”
Terrible Vikings News Hits Headlines
Losing the TE2, were that to be fully confirmed, would be a tough hit to the offense.
Thor Nystrom commented on the significance online: “Oliver is one of the most underrated players on the Vikings, a skeleton key on offense that unlocks their ability to be multiple and manipulate defensive personnel. This one hurts.”
Nystrom is essentially bang on in his assessment.
Part of the magic of Josh Oliver is that he allows the Vikings to be multiple, largely due to being unpredictable. Putting the TE2 into the game means being capable of passing or running with some proficiency. A great blocker, Oliver is a sneaky athlete who does a better job as a pass catcher than most realize.
He can be tasked with wrestling with an edge rusher, an assignment that a lot of players at his position can’t handle (watch the end of the Bears game when a TE tried to wrestle with Dallas Turner).
In fact, I chatted with him once about that particular issue a while ago, bringing up the idea that edge rushers sometimes make the comment that they should never let a tight end block them. His response to that saying, “Yeah, I think that’s just like the chip on your shoulder that I continue to have. People are always going to say this and that, but I mean if you go out and you got to put on pads and line up in front of me. The aftermath is the aftermath.”
When it comes to Josh Oliver and being multiple, think the difference between Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. In Jones, the Vikings boast a runner who can threaten a defense either in the running or passing game. Defenses therefore encounter some uncertainty pre-snap since it’s tough to make an educated guess. In Mason, the Vikings boast somebody who is really only a threat in the running game. Defenses know this when Mason is out there.
So, Josh Oliver is indeed a key piece of the puzzle. Pre-snap uncertainty is always to be coveted and is a core part of the Vikings’ ethos.
Originally, the tight end got into the NFL as a 3rd-Round choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. The stint down in Jacksonville didn’t lead to Oliver shining. His next stop with the Baltimore Ravens did lead to him proving to be a great option as a blocker, leading to a 2023 signing from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Losing Oliver would mean that T.J. Hockenson gets a heartier workload. Already, the TE1 is…the TE1. So, there’s not a ton more that can be placed onto his shoulders even if Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips task Hockenson with blocking a touch more.
Next up for in-house options are sophomores Gavin Bartholomew (on the 53-man roster), Ben Yurosek (working through injury), and Cam Grandy (on the practice squad).
Last year, the Vikings employed veteran tight end Nick Vannett for a little while. He’s a brawny blocker who is hanging around on Baltimore’s practice squad. Don’t be surprised if he’s a target of the Minnesota Vikings with the Josh Oliver news.
Some other options exists in leaning on fullback Max Bredeson more. That could mean more 21 personnel or even tasking Bredeson with lining up at tight end, something he did a lot at Michigan. Moreover, there’s Jauan Jennings and his ability as a blocker. He won’t be tasked with playing tight end but he’s a great option to block when leaning on 11 personnel.
Next up is a Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins. Even if there’s some unexpected good news with the tight end, the Vikings aren’t likely to see Josh Oliver for a little while.
The Irish team bowed their heads during playing of the Israeli national anthem on Sunday night and they declined to shake hands with their opponents, a gesture that is customary before international fixtures.
Ireland played the match wearing black armbands in memory of those killed in Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, and just 24 hours earlier it was unclear whether the match would go ahead at all.
‘Significant majority’ vote to play
On Saturday, the players voted in favor of playing what was technically a home match for Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, despite widespread opposition to their participation among the Irish public.
David Courell, the chief executive of the Irish FA (FAI), told a press conference that had been delayed for several hours while players and coaches met to discuss the issue, that a significant majority of the squad had voted to play.
“Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures,” he said.
However, the vote was not unanimous and one player, reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, decided to pull out of the squad for this and a second match against Israel during this international break.
In Sunday’s match, Troy Parrott netted the opener for Ireland in the 14th minute, with Adam Idah scoring two minutes later. Jack Moylan added a third in the 25th to make the final score 3-0.
Few supporters present
The fixture was played in a largely empty stadium in Debrecen, with just a few hundred Israeli fans and a handful of Irish supporters in attendance.
The FAI had not reserved any tickets for their fans to attend the match and public broadcaster RTE showed the match without the usual halftime analysis.
Over the previous few days, the Irish team had been under intense pressure from Irish fans and politicians to boycott the fixture.
Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway. Dublin has also repeatedly criticized Israel over the Gaza conflict.
A Hamas raid into Israel on October 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people, prompting Israel’s attack on Gaza which has killed over 73,000.
Ireland’s next Nations League match was originally scheduled to be played in Dublin on October 4, but due to security concerns, it has been moved to the Serbian town of Backa Topola, where it is to be played behind closed doors.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding
While Autumn Boy began the week in Melbourne, Chris Waller expects the multiple Group 1 winner to be in Sydney on Saturday for the running of the Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
The champion trainer confirmed over the weekend that the historic mile, a Group 1 event worth $1.5 million, was the plan for the Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas victor.
Autumn Boy’s first two starts this campaign – an eighth in the Memsie Stakes and a second in the Makybe Diva Stakes – were in Melbourne, where he will have his final gallop before heading north after Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.
The trainer indicated that the colt would need to perform exceptionally poorly in his upcoming race for Waller to consider deviating from his plan for the son of The Autumn Sun, with champion jockey James McDonald booked.
“Maybe (if he drew) barrier 20, but when we’re committed to James I’d say he’d come up,” Waller said when asked what would prevent him from running in the Epsom.
“He’s not back from Melbourne, he’s going to gallop there Tuesday and he’s going to come back Wednesday night. I guess there is a five per cent chance I could run him in the Turnbull, but that’s highly unlikely. He’ll run in the Epsom, that’s our plan and James (McDonald) is booked to ride him so that’s showing our hand pretty firmly.”
Autumn Boy was nominated for Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington as a safeguard, but Aeliana, Asterix, Buckaroo, Birdman, and O’Hope Wins are more probable contenders from Waller’s stable for that $1 million Group 1.
This weekend, Autumn Boy will aim to improve on his runner-up finish in Randwick’s other major Group 1 mile handicap, the Doncaster Mile, in which he placed second to Sheza Alibi in April this year. He also finished second to the Victorian mare in the Randwick Guineas and at his most recent outing, the 1600m Makybe Diva Stakes on September 12.
Autumn Boy is allocated 55.5kg for the Epsom Handicap, where he is the $3.50 favourite, with unbeaten Kiwi star Well Written ($4.50), Attica ($6), and Ceolwulf ($8) also prominent in the betting.
Consider the current racing odds for the Epsom Handicap at online bookmakers before placing your bets.
The Seattle Seahawks visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET from Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD. Seattle is 2-0 after a Week 2 win at Arizona and Washington is 0-2 after a Sept. 20 loss to Dallas amid a quarterback change.
Seattle has allowed 17 points total with 4 interceptions and 5 sacks. Washington averages 157 rushing yards per game and 185 passing yards per game.
Washington has allowed 61 points with 5 sacks and 0 interceptions. Seattle allows 8.5 points per game and Washington allows 30.5 points per game.
The Seahawks are 7-point favorites over the Commanders.
Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
How to Watch Seahawks vs. Commanders
Players To Watch
Washington’s quarterback picture changed fast in Week 2. Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow during the September 20 loss to Dallas, and the team has since named Mariota the Week 3 starter against Seattle. In relief that day, Mariota went 11 of 16 for 111 yards and a touchdown without an interception, good for a 109.1 passer rating on his snaps.
Washington has still leaned on the run, averaging 157 rushing yards per game through two weeks, which should ease the transition at quarterback. That ground game matters against a Seattle defense that has allowed just 17 points total this season and already has 4 interceptions, tied for the league lead. Mariota’s job Sunday is simple: protect the ball and let the rushing attack set up manageable throws.
Washington’s passing game has produced just 185.5 yards per game through two weeks, and it will lean on that number behind a new starter at quarterback. McLaurin remains the target Washington trusts most in that offense, even after managing only 4 catches for 64 yards over the first two games.
Seattle’s defense will make that climb harder. The Seahawks already have 9 passes defended, 5 sacks and 4 interceptions through two games, a group that has forced early turnovers and quick decisions from opposing passers. Washington needs McLaurin to turn a similar target share into real yardage now that its passing game is breaking in a new starter.
Seattle’s passing game has been nearly mistake-free through two weeks, and Lock is a big reason why. He has thrown for 422 yards and 4 touchdowns without an interception, completing 72.9 percent of his passes for a 127.3 rating.
That efficiency lines up well against a Washington defense that has allowed 61 points and zero interceptions through two games, even though the Commanders have generated 5 sacks. A clean afternoon from Lock, not necessarily a huge one, would keep Seattle’s early passing efficiency intact against a defense still hunting for its first takeaway.
Coming off a three-touchdown outburst in Seattle’s Week 2 win over Arizona, Smith-Njigba has been the most productive receiver in this matchup. He has 17 catches for 277 yards and 4 touchdowns through two games, including a 9-catch, 155-yard, three-score day against the Cardinals.
Washington’s defense has allowed 30.5 points per game and has yet to intercept a pass this season, conditions that favor a receiver who already has an 82-yard catch on his season log. If Smith-Njigba keeps winning at that rate, Washington will have to devote extra coverage to him and open room elsewhere in Seattle’s offense.
Seahawks vs. Commanders Odds
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TORONTO — The Toronto Tempo were about to take a 17-day break from playing WNBA games. It was Aug. 29, a Saturday night in Phoenix, and as losers of their last 16 of 17 games, including a 32-point loss that night, time away could be healing.
Some players, such as Nyara Sabally and Maria Conde, were gearing up for Berlin and the FIBA World Cup, others were readying for a few extra days off the court.
But as the Tempo sat together after the game and basked in yet another loss, it wasn’t about how quickly they could get away from recent disappointment. In that locker room, packing was slow.
Brittney Sykes, who is familiar with the post-loss locker room routine after 10 seasons in the WNBA, has catalogued that evening as a moment that best defines her team and their inaugural season.
“I just remember us all rallying behind each other and just giving each other encouragement and just pouring into each other’s cups,” Sykes said during her exit interview on Saturday.
When 2026 started, these players didn’t know they’d end up on the WNBA’s first international team, yet after four months together, they’d decided on the culture they wanted to have. Amid the losing record, injuries and disappointments, everyone in that room wanted to show up for each other, not hurry to get away.
“(We were) telling each other, as long as we got each other in this room, nothing else matters. As long as we’re happy with each other, nothing else matters,” Sykes said.
“We definitely made that decision in the beginning, but we reiterated it in that moment, and that stood out to me because not a lot of teams are able to do that. … I was really proud of my team.”
What were the biggest takeaways from the inaugural season? Let’s take a look.
The Tempo had two ways of getting into the history books in 2026. For one, the obvious list of firsts: first international franchise, first Toronto draft pick, first home game north of the border.
On the other end came the historical moments that beat out previous records, the ones that weren’t just a byproduct of becoming the first team in Canada.
The Tempo signed Marina Mabrey and Sykes to the league’s first million-dollar deals. The backcourt duo anchored the trajectory of this team and affirmed Toronto as a place overlooked talent could get new opportunities.
While Sykes was healthy, she averaged 18.6 points per game, an increase of 4.5 from her previous season, while Mabrey reached a career-high average of 20.8 points per game. In the few games they spent together on the court before injuries, this pair gave a glimpse of the demolition they could cause on both ends of the floor.
In total, Toronto helped five veterans — Temi Fagbenle (19), Isabelle Harrison (26), Sabally (29), Sykes (38) and Mabrey (53) — hit single-game career highs this season. In most cases, the Tempo helped players take their game to a new level.
That’s not to say all of Toronto’s big spending paid off; Fagbenle also got a seven-figure contract in free agency and ended up missing 19 games and her per-game scoring average dropped by 1.5 points and sank to a three-year low.
The most memorable record of the year was Mabrey’s 53-point game against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 25. With nine three-pointers, eight twos and 10 free throws, the crashout queen tied A’ja Wilson’s single-game scoring record and forced the rest of the league to take notice of the bordeaux and blue north of the border. In that game, the Tempo also set a WNBA record for the most points in a regulation win, with 125.
“The 53 tops everything. That was one of the best nights of my basketball career,” Mabrey said as she ended her final media availability of the season.
Laura Juskaite was the only Tempo player to play in all 44 games this season. Apart from Kia Nurse and Teonni Key, who were also available for every game, no other Toronto players could take the court with that consistency.
Injuries started early, with Harrison, Fagbenle and Sabally all missing time. To adjust, Toronto had to move guards Juskaite and Conde out of their comfort zones and into bigger positions. Then, just when that front-court core started to get healthy rookie Kiki Rice suffered an ankle ailment that cost her 16 games. Sykes also went down with a left foot injury that forced her to miss 27 games.
By the time the team was ready to return from FIBA break on Sept. 18, the Tempo had ruled out three key players for the rest of the season: Sykes, Mabrey (right adductor) and deadline acquisition Aneesah Morrow (left knee).
“At one time we never had our full group together, it was like, well, this is a what-if,” head coach Sandy Brondello said as she reflected on the season.
“What would it look like if we had Nyara and Izzy and everyone available at the same time, and Slim and Mabrey, and we could continue to grow?”
The Tempo never had the chance to answer those hypotheticals as injuries became a constant plague. In total, they lost 120 player games due to injury or illness, which ranked third in the league.
The WNBA had long been considering expansion to Canada. Back in May, commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke with media in Toronto and shared there were plans for the WNBA to play pre-season games in Toronto that dated all the way back to 2020 but were delayed because of the pandemic.
When the moment finally arrived, the Tempo never lacked support at home. All 15 Coca-Cola Coliseum games were sold out this season.
“I remember our first pre-season game. I couldn’t believe what it sounded like there,” Mabrey reflected. “All the little kids getting everyone’s jersey, getting a chance to see all of us in-person, upfront, so they can learn and be able to have that mentor they can look up to.”
On July 10, the Tempo also set an WNBA regular-season attendance record in Montreal with 20,996 fans. To have the record set in a French-speaking city, outside of the United States, by a team from a different province, was remarkable. That turnout speaks to more than just what the WNBA means to Canada; it provides a blueprint for what the league could do in the rest of the world.
“The thing that you will never forget is that you were part of this first season, this first team for Canada. It’s a special thing,” Tempo guard Julie Allemand said on Saturday.
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