Latest news with #MonicaWrightRogers
CBC
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Golden example: Valkyries provide Tempo a template for WNBA expansion success
Social Sharing Nell Fortner is pleading patience. That's Canada's national women's basketball team head coach's advice for fans of the incoming Toronto Tempo, who will begin play in the WNBA next season. And Fortner would know — she was the head coach of the expansion Indiana Fever in 2000. "It was hard. I remember going on a 10-game losing streak … it was really, really hard. So you just have to be patient and just keep working your process, keep working your values and your culture," Fortner said. Even during her first training camp, Fortner had already crossed paths with Tempo president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers. She recalled how her Fever struggled to a 9-23 record in their first year, but were rewarded at the subsequent entry draft with the pick of Tamika Catchings that helped turn the franchise's fortunes. Twenty-five years later, Fortner predicted less pain for the Tempo than she experienced with the Fever. "Here's what I told [Resch]," Fortner said. "Y'all are in a much better position now because the talent is so much better. And there's so much more of it. I mean, it's just a worldwide game right now. Golden State's talent is primarily international. I'm like, 'dang man, that wasn't like that [when I coached].'" WATCH | Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers talks goals for 2026 season: Meet Monica Wright Rogers, the GM of the WNBA's newest team, the Toronto Tempo 5 months ago The newly hired Tempo general manager talks goals for the 2026 WNBA season and how she plans to build a championship-winning team. Indeed, the Golden State Valkyries — who entered the league this season — can provide hope and a template to the Tempo. The Valkyries came in as the first of six expansion franchises set to transform the WNBA into an 18-team outfit by 2030. Toronto and Portland will be next up in 2026, followed by Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit later in the decade. Exceeding expectations Golden State arrived with low expectations — and rightfully so, given that the league's previous four expansion teams, dating from 2000 to 2008, combined for a 24-108 record. ESPN's projection handed the Valkyries 15.7 wins. None of the U.S. sports media giant's experts predicted Golden State would make the playoffs. And yet, the leagues newest team sits 10-12 at the all-star break, right in the mix for a post-season spot. So how have they done it, and what lessons can the Tempo learn? Golden State's roster-building journey began in December with the expansion draft, where each of the existing teams were allowed to protect up to six players, leaving the other half open for selection. The Valkyries walked away with 11 players. "Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defence and scoring ability," general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. "These players were carefully chosen not only for their skills on the court, but also for their ability to fit into the culture we're working to build here at Golden State." Untapped international talent pool As Fortner alluded to, seven of those 11 players hailed from outside of the U.S. Halfway through the season, four of the top seven Valkyries players in minutes per game are international. "The international part ... that wasn't my mindset," head coach Natalie Nakase said. "It was building the best team that I wanted to build." Still, the non-Americans could provide opportunity as less recognized and more untapped in terms of potential. On the flip side, the Valkyries also selected Kate Martin from the Aces, who became known nationally during her time at Iowa as Caitlin Clark's sidekick. Martin was a sound business decision, but she has also proven to be a capable competitor, averaging 6.9 points per game on 36.5 per cent shooting from three-point range. For the Tempo, the box-office draw and international flair could be combined by bringing a Canadian into the fold. Golden State has used that exact strategy, with former first-rounder Laeticia Amihere providing impact as a rebounder and defender despite initially being cut from the opening-day roster. Amihere's fellow 2024 first-round pick Aaliyah Edwards could follow the same path. Despite a standout rookie season for the Washington Mystics, the Kingston, Ont., native has struggled to carve out a role this season, leading to the team reportedly seeking a trade to give her extra opportunity. With her situation surprisingly unsettled, Edwards seems likely to be available for the Tempo. Meanwhile, the most obvious draft choices have also been the most successful for Golden State. Point guard Veronica Burton, left unprotected by the Connecticut Sun, and forward Kayla Thornton, formerly of the New York Liberty, have played the most minutes for the Valkyries on the season. Burton has been hailed as a "natural leader" by Nakase — a key quality for an expansion team's floor general. At 24, she could grow into a face of the franchise as her career takes off in Golden State. Thornton, 32, is the Valkyries' lone all-star representative. The veteran provides championship experience, having won the title with New York last season, and leads the team in both scoring and rebounding. Wright Rogers held off on specifics when asked about her team-building philosophy at her introductory press conference in February. "I wanna make sure that I'm respectful to our future head coach and allowing them to shape that on-court product. But there are some obvious things that it takes to win in this league and our team will definitely be looking to have that," she said. Strategically, the Valkyries have prioritized pace and three-point shooting — two variables that can often help less talented teams overcome better opponents on paper. But Golden State doesn't seem to be a fluke — the team is seventh in the league in point differential. The Valkyries' biggest challenge moving forward may be a road-heavy schedule, since home court has been another key to success. The team is averaging a league-high 18,064 fans per game at the Chase Center, which is about double the Tempo's capacity at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Toronto fans will have waited a long time to fill those seats once the ball is finally tipped in May.
CBC
22-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers plotting out Toronto roster a year before WNBA debut
Monica Wright Rogers is just about ready to shift the Toronto Tempo into a new gear. Wright Rogers has been focused on the business side of the new WNBA franchise in her first four months as the Tempo's inaugural general manager. But in the coming months, she'll turn her attention to assembling the on-court product before Toronto's debut in the 2026 season. "It's been a very busy time, and I know that it's important right now to really get into the community, to learn the landscape of the sports industry here in Toronto and in Canada, and to continue to push the Tempo name out there," said Wright Rogers after speaking at a sports industry conference in downtown Toronto. "There is going to be a point where I shift focuses here and really start focusing on the task at hand, which is building out the Toronto Tempo's roster and staff." Toronto's roster will take shape over the next 12 months. Meet Monica Wright Rogers, the GM of the WNBA's newest team, the Toronto Tempo 4 months ago Duration 12:57 An as-yet unscheduled expansion draft after the 2025 regular season will be the first opportunity for the Tempo and Portland's new franchise to select some players. Then the regular draft and free agency in early 2026 will help Wright Rogers complete Toronto's lineup. "Before all that we are going to hire our head coach, so those are the big to do's on my list," said Wright Rogers, who played in the WNBA for seven seasons and was previously the assistant GM of the Phoenix Mercury. "I think it's all about the strategy and that's why it is important for me to understand the landscape here. "That plays a role in the strategy of what players would be the right fit for this organization and what staff will be appropriate to not only lead us on the court, but lead us off the court as well." Why WNBA draft could provide clearest route for Tempo to acquire franchise player in 2026 Wright Rogers was one of the panellists at the espnW Summit Canada, a conference on the growth of women's sport in downtown Toronto, on Wednesday. Prepping for veteran-centric league During her talk, she noted that the WNBA is a veteran-centric league, with rookies usually taking two or three years to fully develop and keep pace with their more experienced peers. As a result, she expects free agency to be the most important step in building the Tempo's roster. Wright Rogers doesn't anticipate that being an issue for the Tempo. "I'm looking for the best players, but I think Canada has some of the best players in the league," said Wright Rogers, noting that the WNBA's current group of international players is also very strong. "I think specifically WNBA players are not foreign to playing internationally because a lot of us have, when I was a player included, have played in the WNBA, and then we play internationally in the off-season. "It won't be a big pain point for players to come across the border in that way or come across the water in that way. They're used to it." Wright Rogers was named the GM of the Tempo on Feb. 20. She said she wasn't expecting such excitement around the announcement, but found it an encouraging sign for her future roster. "I love that because, to me, that warm embrace and appetite and just the hospitality that I feel, I know our staff and players are going to feel when they get here as well," she said, standing in a courtyard at the Evergreen Brick Works. "That makes me really happy, because it's like people enter this team and they come on board and they just get a big Canadian hug."
Winnipeg Free Press
22-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers plotting out Toronto roster a year before WNBA debut
TORONTO – Monica Wright Rogers is just about ready to shift the Toronto Tempo into a new gear. Wright Rogers has been focused on the business side of the new WNBA franchise in her first four months as the Tempo's inaugural general manager. But in the coming months, she'll turn her attention to assembling the on-court product before Toronto's debut in the 2026 season. 'It's been a very busy time, and I know that it's important right now to really get into the community, to learn the landscape of the sports industry here in Toronto and in Canada, and to continue to push the Tempo name out there,' said Wright Rogers after speaking at a sports industry conference in downtown Toronto. 'There is going to be a point where I shift focuses here and really start focusing on the task at hand, which is building out the Toronto Tempo's roster and staff.' Toronto's roster will take shape over the next 12 months. An as-yet unscheduled expansion draft after the 2025 regular season will be the first opportunity for the Tempo and Portland's new franchise to select some players. Then the regular draft and free agency in early 2026 will help Wright Rogers complete Toronto's lineup. 'Before all that we are going to hire our head coach, so those are the big to do's on my list,' said Wright Rogers, who played in the WNBA for seven seasons and was previously the assistant GM of the Phoenix Mercury. 'I think it's all about the strategy and that's why it is important for me to understand the landscape here. 'That plays a role in the strategy of what players would be the right fit for this organization and what staff will be appropriate to not only lead us on the court, but lead us off the court as well.' Wright Rogers was one of the panellists at the espnW Summit Canada, a conference on the growth of women's sport in downtown Toronto, on Wednesday. During her talk, she noted that the WNBA is a veteran-centric league, with rookies usually taking two or three years to fully develop and keep pace with their more experienced peers. As a result, she expects free agency to be the most important step in building the Tempo's roster. Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has noted in the past that he tries to target Canadian and international players because playing outside the United States can sometimes be a tough sell for American NBA players. Wright Rogers doesn't anticipate that being an issue for the Tempo. 'I'm looking for the best players, but I think Canada has some of the best players in the league,' said Wright Rogers, noting that the WNBA's current group of international players is also very strong. 'I think specifically WNBA players are not foreign to playing internationally because a lot of us have, when I was a player included, have played in the WNBA, and then we play internationally in the off-season. 'It won't be a big pain point for players to come across the border in that way or come across the water in that way. They're used to it.' Wright Rogers was named the GM of the Tempo on Feb. 20. She said she wasn't expecting such excitement around the announcement, but found it an encouraging sign for her future roster. 'I love that because, to me, that warm embrace and appetite and just the hospitality that I feel, I know our staff and players are going to feel when they get here as well,' she said, standing in a courtyard at the Evergreen Brick Works. 'That makes me really happy, because it's like people enter this team and they come on board and they just get a big Canadian hug.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New WNBA Franchise Makes Big Announcement on Friday
New WNBA Franchise Makes Big Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While the 2025 WNBA season is rolling full speed ahead, one franchise is already building excitement for its 2026 debut. The Toronto Tempo, awarded an expansion team in December 2024, will become the 14th franchise in WNBA history and the first based outside the United States. The team will play its home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Advertisement In February, the Tempo named Monica Wright Rogers as their general manager. Now, they've made another major move to strengthen their front office. Ben Pickman of The Athletic reported on Friday: "Eli Horowitz, a longtime Los Angeles Sparks staffer and their current assistant GM, is taking a job at the Toronto Tempo as their AGM and SVP of basketball strategy." Horowitz brings a wealth of experience, having spent seven seasons with the Sparks as assistant general manager and vice president. He will be Toronto's new assistant general manager and senior vice president of basketball strategy. He'll work closely with Wright Rogers to oversee the team's salary cap management, basketball operations, analytics and scouting efforts. Eli Horowitz (left), shown during his time as assistant general manager of the LA Sparks, was named the new assistant GM and senior vice president of basketball strategy for the Toronto Lee-Imagn Images The team released a memo to announce Horowitz's hiring, and Wright Rogers shared her thoughts on bringing him aboard. Advertisement 'I'm thrilled to have Eli on board as we shape the Tempo into a winning WNBA franchise,' Rogers said. 'He brings impeccable credentials to our front office — elite scouting, advanced analytics, innovation around our cap strategy and a winning mindset.' She added: 'Just as important, we share core values around culture and collaboration, and a vision to build something lasting. He's the ideal partner to shape a first-class franchise for our inaugural season and beyond.' During his tenure in Los Angeles, Horowitz played a key role in bringing stars like Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson to the Sparks. Advertisement As Toronto prepares for its inaugural season, it's clear the Tempo is focused on building a strong, forward-thinking foundation from day one. Related: ESPN's Monica McNutt Makes Strong Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Statement Related: Caitlin Clark's Behavior Toward Referee in Fever-Mystics is Turning Heads This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Cision Canada
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
TORONTO TEMPO MARKS ONE YEAR TO TIP-OFF WITH IMMERSIVE TEMPO LIVE EVENT
TORONTO, May 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The countdown is on! For the first time ever, the Toronto Tempo is giving fans the chance to come together in person at Tempo LIVE, a can't-miss celebration at STACKT Market on May 24 & 25. The event kicks off a countdown to tip-off - the team is just one year away from making its WNBA debut. Tempo LIVE, presented in partnership with Destination Toronto, will feature a collection of immersive and interactive fan experiences, including: Tempo Fan Camp, presented by founding partner CIBC – the ultimate rally spot where visitors can make their own pennant flags, get Tempo airbrush tattoos, and sign a banner that will hang at future Tempo home court Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Tempo Talks Speaker Series, presented by founding partner Sephora Canada – featuring an array of conversations on the beauty of basketball culture. Scheduled speakers include General Manager of the Toronto Tempo, Monica Wright Rogers, Juno Award-winning artist, Jully Black, VP of Product of October's Very Own (OVO), Michael Kerr, and the newest addition to the Tempo ownership group – Canadian actress, writer and advocate, Lilly Singh. Merchandise pop-up shop featuring Peace Collective, Roots, and Nike. An interactive and inclusive basketball skills course called the "Tempo Drill," where fans can show off their hustle on the court to win a pair of tickets to a future Tempo game. Fans will be able to place a deposit on season tickets and memberships on-site. Deposits can also be made online at "Our fans are at the heart of this team," explains Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer, Tempo Basketball Club. "There's no better way to mark a year to tip-off than by bringing that community together and letting them experience the Tempo brand in person. We can't wait to get a first taste of the passion, energy and excitement that is going to power this team into 2026 and beyond." The team is also marking a year to tip-off with the release of a :60 film centred on the concept of 'tempo' – the heartbeat of competition and the unseen force that drives the game. Set to the rhythm of our city and the pace of the game, the spot captures the unstoppable energy and diversity of a team—and a country—on the rise. Tempo LIVE is taking place on May 24 & 25, 2025, from 11:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. EST at STACKT Market (28 Bathurst Street, Toronto). Fans can sign up for more information about the event and RSVP to panels at Entry will be subject to capacity. While registering doesn't secure a spot, registrants will be kept close to event details as they unfold. About Toronto Tempo In May 2024, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced its expansion into Canada by awarding Toronto an expansion team, the league's first outside the United States. The new team, owned by Kilmer Sports Ventures, will begin play in the 2026 season as the WNBA's 14th franchise. Sephora Canada and CIBC are the team's first announced founding partners. Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures and a 30-year veteran of building championship-caliber teams, is also Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors, NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, MLS' Toronto FC and other professional sports franchises. Under his leadership, the Raptors won their first NBA championship in 2019.
