Toronto Tempo loses 83-78 debut to Connecticut Sun

Toronto's new WNBA franchise, the Tempo, fell 83-78 to the Connecticut Sun in its first-ever game, a preseason matchup Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum that marked the league's official arrival in the city.

Hamilton native Kia Nurse etched her name in franchise history by swishing a three-pointer at the 7:59 mark of the first quarter, igniting a frenzied crowd. Connecticut veteran Brittney Griner had scored the building's first field goal moments earlier, a layup at 9:13. The Sun jumped to an early lead, but Toronto guard Lexi Held sparked a late first-quarter surge to tie the score at 20-20.

The Tempo seized control with a 10-point advantage early in the third quarter. Connecticut rallied in the fourth, however, as second-year forward Aneesah Morrow drained a pull-up three-pointer for a four-point lead. Morrow topped the Sun with 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench, adding a steal and layup with 48.4 seconds left to extend the margin to six. Toronto fans roared late when Connecticut's Gianna Kneepkens missed two free throws, but Morrow secured the rebound on the second miss, and Charlisse Leger-Walker sank one of two after an intentional foul to seal the...