July 10, 2026
Toronto Tempo lose to the Dallas Wings in Montreal, but set new records in the process
The Dallas Wings and the Toronto Tempo made history tonight, becoming the first two WNBA teams to tip off in Montreal. But moreover, tonight also set a league-wide attendance record as well. 20 996 fans filled the Bell Center to see the Toronto Tempo and Dallas Wings square off.
Women’s sports really seem to have found a market in Montreal, thanks to the groundwork laid out by the champion Montreal Victoire of the PWHL and the very competitive Montreal Roses of the NSL. With rumors already buzzing about town that a major basketball team could be coming on the near future, setting league-wide attendance records could have potential investors foaming at the mouth.
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To put it all into context; while this may be the inaugural season for the Toronto Tempo, it is also the thirtieth season for the league. So, when you take that into consideration, not only is this the biggest crowd for a WNBA game – it is the biggest crowd in the leagues thirty year history! And it happened in Montreal, while supporting two teams that aren’t even from here. Somewhere, somebody has to have taken note of that.
Turns out, the key all along was to bring women’s basketball to Montreal. Having Paige Bueckers in the house helps.
For the second time in less that a week, the Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo met on the court, with Toronto looking to avenge a loss and end their longest losing skid in franchise history. While they came close, the Dallas Wings once more proved too much to handle.
The Tempo are without several key contributors, sidelined to injury – but Marina Mabrey remains one of the best players in the league, and went bucket for bucket with the young Paige Bueckers as the two teams switched leads six times in the third quarter alone. The Tempo’s Laura Juskaite put up twenty-five points, Mabrey had thirty-four, and the Tempo actually held a held a four point lead at halftime, but the Dallas Wings rallied in the fourth frame and ran away with it.
Young sensation Paige Bueckers put on a show for the record setting crowd tonight, putting up thirty-four points and leading her Dallas Wings throughout the game. Bueckers, alongside stars like Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese have been the fuel that has helped the league grow into what it is, and Montreal showed her love all night long.
In the fourth quarter, the Tempo began to slow down, and that allowed the Dallas Wings back into the game and they rapidly took charge of the game. Soon enough, the Dallas Wings found space and punished the Tempo for it, putting up points left and right.
The Toronto Tempo had played valiantly, but ultimately, the Dallas Wings were a tad too strong for them tonight.
“I said to the team today what a unique opportunity this is. We’re creating firsts. We say we’re Canada’s team so we’re taking the show on the road,” said Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello. “I always say, a fan has to just come and watch one game and they’ll fall in love with the game because it is the very best players in the world.”
“Being the only team in Canada, it’s a responsibility for us and how cool is that,” said Brondello. “We get to be seen all over Canada. We want to make sure we can come out tonight and celebrate the WNBA and celebrate the Tempo with our new fans.”
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Once more, sports fans in Montreal showed that they are hungry for basketball in this city. Be it an NBA, NBA G – or a WNBA franchise, the demand is there. Luckily, the Montreal Alliance of the CEBL is filling that void over at the Verdun Auditorium.
The Toronto Tempo remain in Montreal to prepare for their second game in Montreal, when they welcome the New York Liberty to the Bell Center for a Sunday matinee game on July 12. Tip off between the two teams will be at 3pm. The Cross-Canada Series heads to Vancouver for a pair of games in August, against the Portland Fire on August 21st and the Las Vegas Aces on August 23rd at Rogers Arena.
