Toronto Tempo Pursues Young Post Player with First-Round Pick Ahead of WNBA Trade Deadline

Toronto Tempo are aggressively pursuing a young frontcourt standout by dangling a future first-round draft pick to teams across the WNBA. The expansion franchise has submitted trade proposals to both the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun, though both organizations have declined the offers so far. With the August 2 trade deadline approaching, the Tempo face mounting pressure to address their roster depth as injuries continue to derail their postseason hopes.

The Search for Frontcourt Help

Canada's newest WNBA franchise entered the season with a dynamic backcourt featuring rookie guard Kiki Rice alongside veterans Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, both signed to multiyear contracts. However, injuries to key frontcourt players—including Isabelle Harrison, Temi Fagbenle, and Nyara Sabally—have left the Tempo scrambling to find complementary talent in the paint.

The Tempo currently sit 10-16 overall and four games behind the Washington Mystics for the eighth and final playoff position. This record positions them favorably in next year's draft lottery, though the specific year of the pick being shopped carries strategic implications. Because Toronto and fellow expansion Portland Fire have lottery odds calculated on this season alone rather than the cumulative two-year structure used for other non-playoff teams, the Tempo are more inclined to deal their 2028 selection rather than 2027.

Targets and Complications

The most obvious target remains Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, the second overall pick from the 2024 draft. Brink averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds this season despite playing fewer than 20 minutes per game as she recovered from a left ACL injury suffered during her rookie campaign. The Sparks rejected Toronto's recent proposal, though league observers debate whether the offer adequately compensates for a player with Brink's long-term upside.

Toronto's earlier offer to Connecticut also went nowhere. Beyond these two teams, the Tempo face significant obstacles in their pursuit. Their unsuccessful bid to acquire Shakira Austin through an offer sheet—which Washington matched to retain the restricted free agent—demonstrates the limitations of their salary cap flexibility and market positioning within the league.

The Draft Class Risk

Forfeiting the 2028 first-round pick carries notable risk given the incoming talent pool, particularly University of Connecticut forward Sarah Strong, who earned 2026 Naismith Player of the Year honors. The Tempo must weigh whether an immediate frontcourt acquisition justifies surrendering access to a prospect with franchise-altering potential.