The Toronto Tempo didn’t ease into free agency, they made history. The expansion franchise has agreed to two-year max deals with veteran guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, forming the first seven-figure backcourt pairing in WNBA history.
With the league’s new CBA allowing salaries up to $1.4 million annually, Toronto immediately positioned itself as a serious player. Expansion teams rarely contend early, but the Tempo are signaling a win-now approach from Day 1.
Toronto Targets Immediate Impact in Free Agency
This wasn’t a slow-build move, it was intentional. General manager Monica Wright Rogers made it clear the goal was competitiveness right away, not a long-term build.
“This group gives us the ability to compete from day one while continuing to build, and embraces the opportunity to help shape something new in a new country as Canada’s first WNBA team,” Toronto general manager Monica Wright Rogers said after the expansion draft.
Toronto already had Mabrey’s rights from the expansion draft. Locking her into a long-term deal and pairing her with a proven veteran like Sykes turns a theoretical foundation into a real identity.
The presence of head coach Sandy Brondello reinforces that direction. Brondello has championship experience from her time with the New York Liberty and understands how to maximize veteran guards in high-usage roles.
The Tempo don’t be starting with well-established star power like Brondello had with the duo of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu the past three years. But the veteran-led approach indicates that Toronto won’t be afraid to swing for that foundational star in the near future.
Mabrey, Sykes Bring Scoring and Edge
Mabrey joins the team as one of the league’s most dynamic shooters. She averaged 14.4 points and 4.0 assists in 2025 with the Connecticut Sun, while continuing to climb career milestones, 1,000 field goals, 700 assists, and over 400 made threes. Even in a down shooting year last season (27 percent from three), her shooting splits from the season prior (42.4 percent) show her ceiling as a floor spacer.
Sykes complements that skill set with physicality and defensive pressure. After splitting time between the Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm, she averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 assists, and earned her first All-Star selection. Her ability to defend, attack downhill, and create chaos gives Toronto balance in the backcourt.
Together, they check key boxes:
- Shot creation
- Playmaking
- Perimeter defense
- Veteran leadership
That combination is rare for an expansion team. But more important it gives them a foundation to stand on as a team that starts with proven winners to help this team competitive from the beginning and a potential free agent attraction down the line.
A Different Blueprint for Expansion Success
Most expansion franchises prioritize youth and flexibility. Toronto flipped that model. By investing heavily in proven guards, the Tempo are building culture through experience rather than patience. They still will be reliant on players like former Liberty center Nyara Sabally, who they grabbed in the expansion draft, to grow up fast after having limited roles with their prior teams.
There’s also a timing element. With a large portion of the WNBA player pool hitting free agency this offseason, Toronto had a rare window to acquire high-level talent quickly. They capitalized. The expectation is now clear. Toronto is looking to make a bold statement in their inaugural season in the WNBA.
Toronto Tempo Make WNBA History With $1M Backcourt Duo