The Toronto Tempo arrived in the WNBA with record-breaking attendance and major roster challenges during its inaugural season, according to team president Teresa Resch. Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast hosted by former Fast Company editor-in-chief Robert Safian, Resch detailed the chaotic path of launching the league’s newest expansion franchise against the backdrop of historic collective bargaining negotiations.
Operating a sports organization like a startup meant navigating intense time constraints and financial shifts. According to Resch, the franchise had to assemble an entire roster in just 16 days—a process that typically requires six months—because the expansion draft and team building occurred right as the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement.
Transformative CBA Pushes Expansion Budgets
The newly ratified collective bargaining agreement delivered the largest salary increase in professional sports history, according to league figures cited in the interview. Under the previous structure, the league’s highest-paid player earned approximately $250,000 annually. The new agreement establishes a minimum player salary of $270,000, while maximum player salaries scale upward to $1.5 million per year.
While Resch credited the agreement with saving the season—noting that failing to reach a deal within a critical two-week window would have halted play—the financial shift immediately increased operating costs for the Toronto franchise. Building and maintaining a competitive team under the new economic model required rapid adjustments to the team’s business plan and player payroll structure.
Roster Resilience Amid Injuries
Despite the compressed timeline, the Tempo opened the season with strong performances driven by key acquisitions. Players Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes—known to teammates as “Slim”—led the squad through the early schedule. According to Resch, Sykes was performing at an All-Star level before suffering a season-altering injury roughly 10 to 12 games into the schedule.
Injuries forced frequent lineup adjustments during the first 20 games of the season, preventing the team from deploying the same starting lineup twice. Resch noted that without the wave of injuries, the expansion franchise likely would have secured two All-Star selections in its debut campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Toronto Tempo?
The Toronto Tempo is an expansion franchise in the WNBA that began play during the league’s current season.
Who is the team president of the Toronto Tempo?
Teresa Resch serves as the president of the Toronto Tempo, managing the business and operational launch of the franchise.
How did the WNBA collective bargaining agreement impact player salaries?
The collective bargaining agreement increased minimum player salaries to $270,000 and raised maximum salaries to $1.5 million annually, marking a historic shift in professional women’s basketball compensation.
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