ESPN ORIGINAL SERIES SETTING THE TEMPO TO PREMIERE SEPTEMBER 20

The Toronto Tempo announced today that Setting the Tempo, a new four-part ESPN Original Series chronicling the creation and launch of Canada’s first WNBA franchise, will premiere Sunday, September 20 at on ESPN in the US and TSN in Canada.

All four episodes will air consecutively in Canada on TSN from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET and will be available on demand on TSN and Disney+. In the United States, the series will air on ESPN from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET and will be available on demand on the ESPN App and Disney+.

Filmed as the Tempo prepared for its inaugural WNBA season, Setting the Tempo gives fans unprecedented access to the people, decisions and defining moments that brought the franchise to life. The series follows the organization through the process of building its front office and basketball operations, evaluating and acquiring players, establishing a team culture and preparing to take the court for the first time.

“What makes Setting the Tempo so special is that it captures a moment when so much of what the Toronto Tempo would become existed only as an idea,” said Teresa Resch, President, Toronto Tempo. “Every decision carried enormous possibility, and this series gives fans a window into the people, conviction, and care behind those choices. To now see this team take the floor, represent Toronto and Canada, and begin building its own history makes looking back at those early days incredibly meaningful.”

At the centre of the series is the Tempo’s all-women leadership team, including Resch, General Manager Monica Wright Rogers and Head Coach Sandy Brondello, as they work against and exceptionally condensed timeline to build an organization ready to compete in the WNBA from day one.

The series also features members of the Tempo’s inaugural roster, including Marina Mabrey, Brittney “Slim” Sykes, Kia Nurse and Kiki Rice, among others, offering an inside look at the players helping establish the identity of the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise. 

Directed by Canadian Kathleen Jayme, Setting the Tempo is produced by Rock’n Robin Productions in association with Maximum Effort, Ujiri Productions and Nine Two Six Productions.

“As someone who has loved women’s basketball and had the privilege of being part of the WNBA’s story since the very beginning, this project feels incredibly special,” said Robin Roberts. “The launch of the Toronto Tempo represents a defining moment for the league and for women’s sports in Canada. This series captures the passion, pressure and purpose behind building a franchise from the ground up, while shining a light on the women leading the way and shaping the future of the game.”

Executive producers include Serena Williams and Masai Ujiri, principal owners of the Tempo, and Lilly Singh, Tempo owner and the team’s Chief Hype Officer. Williams and Caroline Currier of Nine Two Six Productions serve as executive producers alongside Singh, Robin Roberts and Reni Calister of Rock’n Robin Productions, Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hill of Maximum Effort, and Ujiji and Josiah Rothenberg of Ujiri Productions.

More information about the Toronto Tempo can be found at tempo.wnba.com. 

Source: Toronto Tempo PR