Nyara Sabally Leads Toronto Tempo To Victory In Career-Night, Brondello Says Signing Was A No-Brainer

Nyara Sabally delivered a standout performance for the Toronto Tempo, driving a 111-104 win over the Chicago Sky. The centre scored a career-high 29 points as the expansion team moved to 4-4. The result strengthened Toronto’s early push in the Eastern Conference and highlighted Sabally’s growing role in the new franchise’s offence.

The 26-year-old added six rebounds against Chicago, showing the impact that had been limited by injuries in previous seasons. Sabally’s earlier WNBA best was 16 points for the New York Liberty against the Phoenix Mercury in June 2025. That figure underlined how Wednesday’s display marked a major step in production.

The link between Toronto Tempo and Nyara Sabally began before the first tip for the new team. Sandy Brondello took charge of the expansion side last November after leaving the Liberty. Brondello always targeted Sabally once the new roster was taking shape, viewing fitness as the key factor.

"We knew she had potential, and it was more about just her getting healthy," Brondello said after Thursday’s win. "Then, obviously, we had the opportunity to get her in expansion... it was a no-brainer for us. It's an opportunity to show everyone what she's capable of. For me, she put so much work into it, she's faced so much adversity. So, when great things like this happen, it's pretty special. And she's a very humble, humble, humble player, and I love that about her. She just wants to win, but it's great when good people show what they can do."

Sabally’s efficiency against the Sky matched the headline scoring total. The centre went 11-of-14 from the field and hit three of four attempts from beyond the arc. Marina Mabrey added 24 points, while Brittney Sykes scored 20, giving Toronto Tempo a three-pronged attack that stretched Chicago throughout the game.

Sabally credited the performance to the atmosphere within the Toronto Tempo locker room and the relationship with Brondello. "It's always fun, especially when you get to do it with a group like that, that celebrates your wins and just hypes you up all game," Sabally said. "So, obviously, it means a lot, and especially with Sandy. She's put so much trust in me throughout my whole career. So, it just feels nice to do that."

The victory left the Toronto Tempo at .500 through eight games in their first WNBA season. That record placed the team fifth in the seven-team Eastern Conference, keeping them firmly in the early playoff conversation. Toronto returns to action on Saturday against the Seattle Storm, offering Sabally another chance to build on the career-best outing.