Toronto Tempo Look to Brittney Sykes for a Turnaround After 10-Game Losing Streak

The expansion Toronto Tempo are 10-23, the third-worst record in the league, after a ten-game losing streak that dropped them from playoff contention. The skid followed a grueling five-game road trip that spanned the West Coast, Atlanta and Dallas before the team returned home.

UsNews and World Report

Guard Brittney Sykes has missed roughly two months after sustaining a left plantar-fascia injury in a June 16 game against the Indiana Fever. During her absence she remained a veteran presence, encouraging teammates despite the losing stretch. Sykes told coaches she needs medical clearance before she can suit up again, noting that the rehabilitation period taught her “a lot about herself” and allowed her to support the roster in a different way. Her return is slated for the next matchup against the Fever, where she will face former teammate Caitlin Clark.

UsNews and World Report

Toronto faces a packed week with back-to-back home games against Indiana, followed by an away contest versus Washington. The schedule then moves west to Vancouver for a game against Portland, and later to Las Vegas. After the Vancouver stop, the Tempo will finish the pre-World Cup stretch with road games in Seattle, Las Vegas and Phoenix, capping a demanding travel slate. The condensed itinerary leaves little margin for error if the team hopes to climb out of the bottom of the standings.

UsNews and World Report

While the Tempo struggle, the league’s power poll still ranks Minnesota at the top, with Golden State and the Las Vegas Aces occupying the next spots. Indiana’s star guard posted 25.7 points, 9.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in a recent three-game winning run, and Caitlin Clark earned AP Player of the Week honors. As the Tempo await Sykes’ clearance, her veteran leadership and on-court production could be pivotal in halting the slide and keeping postseason hopes alive.

UsNews and World Report