The Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season has been a mixed bag so far. After showing promise in the early part of the season, the Tempo struggled to get the results in their favor as the squad was hit with a host of injuries and roster issues. Amid this, Toronto decided to sign Kiana Williams on an extreme hardship contract, only to release her after just three games.

Williams was signed on a 7-day contract on August 24 and, per the official WNBA transactions page, Toronto released her at the end of the contract on August 31.

In three games, Williams averaged 6.0 points and 1.3 assists while playing 19.7 minutes per game. Her shooting was below average in her last game against the Phoenix Mercury, where she scored 6 points, going 1-of-9 from the field and 1-of-4 from the deep. She made three assists, playing 22 minutes off the bench in a game the Tempo lost 69-101.

Drafted 18th overall by the Seattle Storm in 2021, the 5-foot-7 guard who won the 2021 NCAA championship with Stanford University has suited up for five franchises, most recently featuring for the Los Angeles Sparks in 13 games earlier this year before her 7-day stint with Toronto.

Over 62 career appearances, Williams has averaged 2.6 points while shooting 34.5% from the field.

Earlier this year, the 27-year-old took part in a training camp with the Phoenix Mercury before earning a developmental deal, eventually averaging 4.8 points over 13.1 minutes in eight appearances.

In a training camp media availability in April ahead of the first preseason game, Williams outlined what her broader role was with the Mercury.

“Just doing the small thing, like you know, picking up full court, talking, communicating, putting people in the right spot on offense,” said Williams. “But yeah, it’s a fun group, so I’m just excited to keep growing.”

Kiana Williams has also taken her talents abroad, playing for Botaş in the Turkish League for the 2025-26 season before joining the Unrivaled League in January. However, she has yet to find a stable footing in the W.

With an 11-29 record, the Toronto Tempo sit 13th in the standings as they head into the final four games of their inaugural WNBA campaign. And they are also on a four-game skid. Much of this poor form can be attributed to injuries to their key players.

Toronto Tempo’s Injury Woes as Debut WNBA Season Nears Closure

It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that the Tempo are playing with a shoestring squad at the moment.

Guard Brittney Sykes was having trouble with plantar fasciitis since mid-June, which led her to miss 18 games before her return in mid-August. However, in her second game after returning, Sykes injured her left foot and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Forward Aneesah Morrow suffered a similar season-ending fate after sustaining a left knee injury in late August.

The Tempo lost Marina Mabrey to a right adductor injury, and she is also likely out for the rest of the season. Head coach Sandy Brondello previously announced that Mabrey will be re-evaluated in a few weeks.

This means that Tempo is now without its main backcourt pairing, Sykes and Mabrey, for the rest of the season. Together, they made up the highest-paid backcourt pairing in WNBA history, each with a million-dollar-plus contract.

Mabrey’s fine scoring form gave Toronto some important wins this season. She was averaging 20.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. Mabrey cemented her place in franchise history by tying the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 25, a night when she also tied the league record with 9 three-pointers.

To compensate for early-season depth issues, Toronto has often relied on Mabrey to play heavy minutes, making her average 29.5 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, Forwards Maria Conde and Nyara Sabally are dealing with calf injuries, and Guard Julie Allemand had a thigh injury.

The Tempo resume play on Sept. 18 by hosting the Indiana Fever at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Though their debut campaign has been marred by hurdles, a strong finish would provide valuable momentum heading into 2027. Fortunately, the ongoing FIBA World Cup break offers much-needed recovery time, raising hopes for a healthier roster over the final four contests.