Two years after the founding of Canada’s first WNBA Team — the Toronto Tempo — the key figures who brought the team to life will be featured in an ESPN Original Series, highlighting the work it took to grow the women’s game and prepare for the team’s inaugural season.
According to ESPN, ‘Setting the Tempo’ will feature an all-women leadership team, from directors and producers to the cast of characters.
Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello will be joined by general manager Monica Wright Rogers as they tell viewers the story of how they raced against the clock to bring on athletes, create a team to compete in the 2026 season and build a solid foundation for the future of women’s basketball in Toronto.
“With the incredible growth of the WNBA and women’s basketball, this is the perfect time to showcase the launch of Canada’s first WNBA franchise,” said Lindsay Rovegno, vice president and executive producer, ESPN Originals. “Setting the Tempo presents a rare opportunity for fans to see what it truly takes to build a successful organization, shining a spotlight on the female executives whose decisions and vision are laying the foundation for the future.”
The docuseries marks a significant investment in uplifting women’s sports, and it gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at every step of the process: personnel decisions, front office set up, building a roster, even picking up the head coach from the airport.
The Tempo are currently 10th in the WNBA, starting off the inaugural season strong with eight wins.
“Bringing a WNBA team to life has been an unforgettable journey,” said Teresa Resch, president of the Toronto Tempo. “Thanks to the incredibly talented storytellers at Rock’n Robin Productions, Ujiri Productions, Maximum Effort, and Nine Two Six Productions, fans will get an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at everything that went into building this team, and the moments that led to our first tip-off.”
