Now this has serious potential for a battle. Sunday’s matinee sees two playoff hopefuls, the Wings and the Tempo, clashing in Toronto. Dallas looks to continue taking steps forward as they exit rebuilding territory, while Toronto wants to start its franchise off with a playoff appearance to set the tone.
Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. The Wings are 5.5-point road favorites with -205 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Tempo upset is priced at +170 with the game total set at O/U 182.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Wings-Tempo game.
Wings vs. Tempo Preview
The way Dallas has remade this roster has been impressive. Jessica Shepard’s scoring touch, passing talent, and ability to dominate the glass have been massive. Azzi Fudd hit the ground running on the defensive end of the floor, setting records for rookie guard steals and blocks, and is knocking down her threes. After finishing 10th in offensive rating and 11th in defensive rating in the 2025 season, Dallas is now sixth in both categories — quite the improvement.
Of course, none of this is possible without Paige Bueckers. Dallas’ superstar guard is the engine that makes the Wings fly and was recently named to her second All-Star game in as many seasons. Her all-around scoring ability and excellent passing chops raise both the floor and ceiling of this Dallas team, and there are some nights when it feels like she’s willing the team to victory.
At 9-10, the Tempo is sitting at the ninth seed and one game back of the final playoff spot. True to their name, Toronto has been a high-flying affair all season long; they’re third in points per game and third-to-last in points per game allowed. Not a surprise when you build a team around Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes. But it’s not just a two-player show: Isabelle Harrison has come on strong as one of the vets on the roster, and Nyara Sabally continues to grow in her expanded role. It’s a strong base for head coach Sandy Brondello to work with, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Tempo grab one of the final playoff spots.
So much of this matchup comes down to the front court. Shepard is an extremely dynamic offensive threat, and Sabally will have her hands full trying to guard her. Can she match her perimeter play as well as her paint play? On the other end, Shepard isn’t much of a defender, and Sabally’s offensive play could make a big difference here. Bueckers and Fudd vs. Sykes and Mabrey is going to be a movie on both ends of the floor, and this game could easily be decided by backcourt scoring.
Wings vs. Tempo Pick, Best Bet
One thing is for sure: a matchup between these teams will produce points. I expect Bueckers and the Dallas offense to find a ton of success, but with Mabrey playing this well, you can’t count out the Tempo attack. You can count on a high-scoring affair to kick off Sunday’s WNBA slate.
