What to know about Mabrey and the rest of the Tempo’s expansion draft picks
After two years of anticipation and a timeline that cut things as close as they could conceivably get, the Toronto Tempo finally have their first 11 players.
At Friday’s expansion draft, the Tempo used 11 of the 12 selections available to them to build the first international WNBA team. Although the Tempo missed out on the top Canadian available — the Portland Fire took Bridget Carleton first overall — Toronto still took a global approach to building its inaugural squad. With eight international players, a heavy serving of shooting guards, and a concerted focus on younger players, it’s clear the Tempo already have a strong sense of where they’re headed.
Even as we anticipate more moves to happen during free agency, and await the college draft, let’s take a moment to get to know each of these 11 inaugural selections.
Here’s what you should know about the Tempo’s first-ever players:
Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun)
Mabrey was the Tempo’s unrestricted free agent selection and the most veteran player they picked. The 29-year-old guard has been a key player for the Sun and Sky in recent years, and although she’s not quite at all-star level, she’s a proven point getter who can drive offence. Last season she averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists over 31.5 minutes per game with the stumbling Sun.
Nyara Sabally (New York Liberty)
Sabally comes to Toronto with experience playing under head coach Sandy Brondello while with the New York Liberty. Although injuries disrupted her 2025 season (she made just 17 appearances), she’s best known for her contributions in 2024 when she helped the Liberty take home their first-ever title. In that decisive Game 5 she slotted in as the third big next to Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart to contribute 13 points and seven rebounds while shooting 71.4 per cent from the field.
Julie Allemand (Los Angeles Sparks)
Allemand is poised to become the Tempo’s starting point guard. With two years of experience in the W where she’s built a reputation as a floor general and elite level passer, Allemand is exactly the type of player Brondello needs to take charge of her five-out offensive system.
Nikolina Milic (Connecticut Sun)
Milic is one of two true centres the Tempo selected at the expansion draft. The 6-foot-3 Serbia native comes with two seasons of experience in the league but hasn’t suited up since 2023 because of her commitments playing overseas. The 31-year old has most recently played in a professional league in Turkey where she came off the bench for Fenerbahçe. She also has experience playing alongside fellow Tempo pick Allemand.
Maria Conde (Golden State Valkyries)
Conde has yet to appear in a WNBA game, and Toronto marks the second expansion team she’s been on in as many years, yet Tempo assistant general manager Eli Horowitz says “she’s one of the best players in all of Europe who’s never been in the WNBA.” She missed out on last year’s W season while rehabbing an injury with her Italian club, but returned to play recently for 15 EuroLeague games, averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 assists.
Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever)
Wallace didn’t appear in any games with the Fever last year (she took a year off for personal reasons), but in her last season in the W (2024) the shooting guard put up 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The 30-year-old, who has experience playing under Brondello at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the Australian national team, is likely to step into her biggest WNBA role yet while with the Tempo.
Aaliyah Nye (Las Vegas Aces)
Nye was the Aces’s 13th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. She comes to the Tempo fresh off winning the WNBA Finals in 2025, but having clocked minimal time on the floor. Over six post-season appearances last season she totalled 15 minutes.
Lexi Held (Phoenix Mercury)
Held is likely to be the Tempo’s second option at point guard. Like Nye shes coming off her rookie season where she advanced all the way to the Finals with the Mercury, but played a very small role with the team.
Kitija Laksa (Phoenix Mercury)
Laksa will start her second WNBA season in 2026 after averaging 5.9 points and 1.2 rebounds with the Mercury last year. The 29-year-old guard was drafted 11th overall by the Storm in 2020, but didn’t start playing professionally in the United States until last season.
Maria Kliundikova (Minnesota Lynx)
Kliundikova played her first return season to the W in 2025 after missing five years to play internationally. She appeared in 34 games for the Lynx — including one start — and averaged 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Adja Kane (New York Liberty)
Kane is the Tempo’s plan for the future. The 21-year-old French centre is unlikely to log minutes in the WNBA this season but has been dubbed by the Toronto brass as “more of a long-term opportunity.” She was drafted by the Liberty with the last pick in the 2025 draft (38th overall) and has since continued her development overseas.
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