With 1 year until the franchise tips off, WNBA's Toronto Tempo starting to come together

Toronto Tempo president Teresa Resch has one guarantee: her team will have jerseys in time for tip-off next season.

"That's what I can 100 per cent commit to. Anything else, I would be lying," Resch said in a recent conversation with CBC Sports.

Yet as preparations for Canada's first WNBA team intensify with one year until its debut, Resch and her growing crew have already had to place their order for on-court merchandise — practice gear, bench wear, coaching attire and the like.

Even without a jersey design.

"We don't have any idea who our coach is going to be, or any of our players. The deadlines don't change for us. So we had to place that order," Resch said.

The 2025 WNBA season begins May 16. For Toronto, it also serves as the unofficial one year out marker. And while roots have been planted for the franchise — a president, general manager, nickname and logo being the most notable — there's still plenty left to do before the Tempo play basketball.

To honour the occasion, the team will hold what it is billing as its first live event — a meet and greet in downtown Toronto May 24-25. There are plans to hold similar public events across Canada throughout the season.

In a year from now, however, there will be basketball to be played.

Resch said she has still not yet received any indication from the league on what the expansion draft might look like when the Tempo enter alongside an expansion sister in Portland.

WATCH | Meet Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers:

Meet Monica Wright Rogers, the GM of the WNBA's newest team, the Toronto Tempo

She also wouldn't address the collective bargaining agreement, which expires after this season and represents the one anvil that could blow up the Tempo's inaugural season.

Regardless of