Toronto's Hot Start Hits a Brick Wall, and a Rookie Scare Leaves Fans Worried

Woof. What a wild one went down Wednesday night, and man, it was a tough break for the Toronto Tempo. The New York Liberty absolutely poured it on, slamming the door shut on Toronto with a 97-82 win. That loss? It wasn't just a loss, it snapped the Tempo's two-game winning streak and dropped 'em straight back to a .500 record at 5-5. Jonquel Jones was an absolute monster for New York, and frankly, the game had more drama than a primetime Netflix series, with a scary rookie injury and a coaching return that had everyone talking.

Liberty's Unstoppable Surge and Monster Nights

You gotta hand it to the Liberty, they came to play. Trailing 22-17 early in the second quarter, New York flipped a switch, sparking a massive 15-2 run that totally changed the game. Satou Sabally was hitting bombs, even sinking one in transition right over her sister Nyara, who the Tempo grabbed in the expansion draft. Talk about family rivalry, am I right? By halftime, the Liberty were up 40-34, thanks in huge part to Jonquel Jones's insane 17 points and 12 rebounds in just the first 20 minutes. She finished the night with a ridiculous 22 points and 17 boards. Breanna Stewart, who only had 2 points in the first half, absolutely exploded in the second. She dropped 17 points after the break, including a crucial 9 in the third quarter alone. That surge pushed New York's lead to 70-58, and from there, they just cruised. Even with All-Star Sabrina Ionescu sidelined with a back issue, only having played one game this season, Coach Chris DeMarco said she's getting better. You know New York is dangerous when they can still pull off a three-game winning streak without one of their best.

Tempo's Tough Night and a Rookie's Frightening Moment

For Toronto, this one stings, big time. Dropping to 5-5, that strong start they had under former Liberty coach Sandy Brondello feels a little shaky now. Brondello, who led the Liberty to their first WNBA championship in 2024 and received a warm ovation from the crowd, has guided this expansion team admirably, but Wednesday was a rough outing. Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes both put up 17 points, but they couldn't counter the Liberty's firepower. But the real heart-stopper came with just 1:33 left in the game. Rookie Kiki Rice, the No. 6 pick in the draft, had her shot blocked, and her right leg bent backwards on the landing. Everyone at Barclays Center, all 14,574 of us, held their breath. She was down for a bit, eventually getting up and limping straight to the locker room. Man, that's just a gut punch, especially for a promising young player on an expansion squad.

What's Next for Toronto

So, what's next for the Tempo? They've gotta regroup fast. They'll host the Chicago Sky on Sunday. For the Liberty, who are now 6-4 and just one game back in the Eastern Conference, they're riding high and will host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Saturday night. This loss for Toronto isn't just a number, it's a test of their resolve, especially with Kiki Rice's health hanging in the balance. We'll be watching to see how they bounce back!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.