Toronto Tempo announce multiple signings, including 2025 all-star Brittney Sykes

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young loses the ball as she falls against Seattle Storm guard Brittney Sykes (20) during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The Toronto Tempo continue to gear up for their inaugural WNBA season with multiple signings, including 2025 all-star Brittney Sykes.

The Tempo also announced the signings of guards Marina Mabrey and Julie Allemand, who were taken in the first round of last week’s expansion draft. All three deals are multi-year contracts.

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Sykes averaged 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and four assists per game last season with Washington and Seattle.

The 32-year-old from Newark, N.J., has career averages of 12.3 points, four rebounds and 2.9 assists over 279 career games with Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington and Seattle. She was named to the league’s All-Defensive first team in 2021 and the second team in 2020 and 2022.

“Brittney is an elite competitor who impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers said in a release. “Her defensive versatility, toughness, and leadership set a standard, and adding a player of her calibre and all-star experience is a significant step as we continue to build our roster.”

Sykes was selected seventh overall by Atlanta in 2017 and made the WNBA all-rookie team that season.

Mabrey, taken with the second-overall pick in the expansion draft, has averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 229 games with Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and Connecticut.

The 29-year-old from Belmar, N.J., started in all but one of her 35 appearances with the Sun last season and averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists per game.

“Marina plays with a level of confidence and edge that stands out,” Wright Rogers said. “She’s a player who isn’t afraid of big moments, can create offence in a variety of ways, and brings a strong competitive presence every game.”

Allemand, 29, has averaged 5.5 points and 4.7 assists over 81 career games with Indiana, Chicago and Los Angeles and helped Belgium win EuroBasket titles in 2023 and 2025.

She averaged 5.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and five assists in 34 games, including 27 starts, with Los Angeles last season.

Allemand was a member of the 2020 all-rookie team with Indiana.

Toronto also signed Lexi Held, Maria Conde, Nikolina Milic, Kristy Wallace, Elizabeth Balogun and Laura Juskaite to training camp contracts. Held, Milic and Wallace were all selected in the expansion draft.

The Tempo kick off their first WNBA season May 8 at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum against visiting Washington.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2026.