Tempo coach Brondello focused on 'controlling the controllables' in face of variables and CBA uncertainty

The Toronto Tempo, Canada's only WNBA team, is scheduled for opening tip in May — but will the Tempo’s beat be off?

The league and the players have failed to come to terms on a collective bargaining agreement. The initial deadline was in October but both parties were unable to reach a deal in negotiations despite an extension.

Team president Teresa Resch said in a recent interview that the team was looking towards a permanent practice facility, getting input from the community and fans on a mascot, and how they are working to solidify a local broadcast deal: the first in history for Canada.

The Tempo came to Toronto with much fanfare and excitement. They appointed general manager Monica Wright Rogers in February 2025 and announced head coach Sandy Brondello in November.

Brondello came off leading the New York Liberty (2022-2025) and previously coached the Phoenix Mercury (2014-2021). Brondello won championships with both teams.

As of December, the team has over thirty staff members, but no players — yet.

In an exclusive conversation with CBC Sports, Brondello said that at the moment, she’s focused on “controlling the controllables.”

Having over 20 years of coaching experience, Brondello is taking on this role in an unprecedented moment in stride.

“We can do the preparation behind the scenes,” she told CBC Sports in studio. “We're out watching a lot of the college games. We're strategizing what the expansion draft could look like and potential players that we could have on. We're targeting the free agents who we feel that we have a really good shot at.”

Strategy and planning becomes essential until the time that she has a squad. Brondello admitted there will be a very short amount of time between the acquisition of players and the beginning of the season, if the league isn’t pushed to work stoppage.

“And when the CBA does get done, and hopefully does get done sooner than later, it'd be nice to have a player,” she said.

“We don't know what kind of style [we] want to play. I don't know. I don't have any players yet. I know I have a vision of how I want to play. But until that, we just work really hard and prepare the best we can and be ready when it really does happen, because it will happen quick.”

Brondello says that despite this being a situation that makes the Tempo’s debut season a little more complicated, her expertise has helped her navigate and be prepared for all challenges.

“I suppose my experiences working with different teams has helped shape me, like, what works [and] what doesn't work? That doesn't mean it's always been perfect, but I mean, what a great opportunity to learn from those situations.”