Even as playoff hopes ended for the Toronto Tempo after their 78-88 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, they continue to make adjustments to their roster as Julie Allemand heads to the FIBA World Cup as part of the Belgium squad. While the 5′ 10″ guard was not the best scorer on the team, she led the Tempo in both assists and steals, a void the team must fill while she’s away.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
According to a post by AllThingsWNBA on X, the veteran guard will no longer be playing with the Tempo, as she has linked up with the Belgian squad a week before the World Cup starts. Allemand has been a key player for the Tempo and is averaging 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in 28.7 minutes of playing time per game. Her criticality for the Tempo squad can be gauged from the fact that she has started 27 of the 29 games she has played this season.
Allemand is officially on Belgium’s FIBA roster per their website. The guard is expected to rejoin her WNBA team after the World Cup. Allemand’s contract suspension should come as no surprise. Previously, WNBA and Tempo reporter Chelsea Leite also reported that teams in the W are temporarily suspending the contracts of players going away for the World Cup. With the Tempo already eliminated from playoff contention, Allemand’s absence removes a veteran playmaker from a team rebuilding for 2027
The FIBA World Cup starts on September 4 and will run through September 13. The WNBA will officially pause for the World Cup from August 31 to September 17.
Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season has been a mixed bag. With an 11-26 record for the season, the Tempo went through a 12-game skid before finally winning against the Portland Fire on Friday, August 21.
Injuries to key players have played their part in this poor run of results as well. Brittney Sykes is once again out due to a foot injury, and Aneesah Morrow faces a knee issue. Sykes has already missed 18 games this season and is sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Marina Mabrey, who has been the silver lining for the Tempo this season through her fine scoring form, is out due to an adductor issue, and Maria Conde is also not available due to a calf issue. Isabelle Harrison and Nyara Sabally have also missed significant game time this season.
So, by the looks of it, Allemand will not be the only Tempo player who will miss game time in the coming days.
To cope with all these injuries and absences, the Tempo announced on Monday that they have signed guard Kiana Williams to a seven-day extreme hardship contract.
Williams has previously featured for multiple teams in the W and has made 59 appearances spread across teams like the Seattle Storm, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, and Los Angeles Sparks.
Her latest stint was with the Sparks, where she averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 assists in 11.2 minutes of playing time in 13 appearances. She brings much-needed coverage for the Tempo in a position that they have needed help for weeks.
To add to the misery, one of Tempo’s key players faces disciplinary action for her play in a previous game.
Amid Roster Troubles, Toronto Tempo Forward Faces WNBA Punishment
The Tempo lost against the Aces after a lone win, but the game saw no shortage of action as both teams tried to get one over each other. A notable highlight of the game was produced when the Tempo’s Isabelle Harrison was involved in a heated play with the Aces’ Mai Yamamoto.
With around 7:09 left on the clock in the second quarter, Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison attempted to receive a pass inside the paint. However, the ball was intercepted by Yamamoto. Harrison was then seen grappling with the Aces player and ultimately shoved her away, even after the foul was called against her.
The players from both teams were then involved in a brief altercation, as Chelsea Gray stepped up to Harrison with some words for her.
Harrison now faces a fine after getting her first technical of the season, which leads to her having to pay a $500 fine. League rules mandate that the first three technical fouls warrant $500 fines, while $1,000 fines are applicable for the player’s fourth through seventh techs. If an eighth technical foul is added, the player will be required to pay a $1,500 fine. They will also be required to endure a one-game suspension.
The team cannot afford to lose Harrison as well. She is the team’s fifth-highest scorer, averaging 12 points per game. With Mabrey and Sykes both out, Harrison’s impact becomes more important to the Tempo’s offense. Despite being out of playoff contention, the Toronto Tempo would like to end on a decent record in hopes of a more successful future season.
The Toronto Tempo will look to finish their season on a high as they search for a win again against the Seattle Storm in their next game on Wednesday.