All-rookie Kiki Rice a vibrant spot in robust Tempo season 

As an growth staff, the Toronto Tempo had some alternative to regulate their very own future forward of the draft. They gained a coin toss over Portland and chosen the sooner entry draft decide as a substitute of the primary growth choice simply to safe the perfect odds of choosing Kiki Rice. 

And, following a troublesome debut with zero factors for the rookie, Toronto noticed its draft determination repay.  After her first recreation, Rice completed eight straight within the double digits. 

“What a great young talent. It was great just to see her develop. That was a player that we really envisioned when things went well. You know, we obviously picked her up in the draft, and she started well,” head coach Sandy Brondello stated as she praised Rice throughout exit interviews. 

Rice developed right into a franchise participant over her first yr in Toronto, and caught consideration from the remainder of the league. On Wednesday, she was named to the 2026 WNBA All-Rookie Team. The award is voted on by broadcasters and journalists from throughout the league’s markets, and he or she completed tied for the fifth choice.

Rice was instantly essential to the Tempo offence. In her first 9 video games, she averaged 27.10 minutes per recreation and had half-hour or extra in three of the Tempo’s 5 wins over that span. Across these victories, she was essential as a playmaker and averaged 15.4 factors per recreation. 

But on June 3 in New York, a block from Jonquel Jones and an ensuing onerous fall introduced the hopes for Rice’s rookie season to a tumbling halt. 

Rice landed humorous on her ankle and instantly reached right down to seize the harm. Her teammates ran to protect her with towels as she rolled on the bottom earlier than getting helped down the tunnel and out of the sport.

Thirteen days after her fall, the Tempo introduced her ankle sprain wouldn’t preserve her out for all the season. The lengthy path of restoration that lay earlier than her now had a deadline. 

“She fought through a tough injury and still came back and was amazing. I mean, she’s definitely an All-Rookie Team player, and just it’s awesome to see her come into a role and embrace it and be really impactful on a team as a rookie,” Mabrey stated after the season.

Rice missed 16 video games due to her harm and had a sluggish begin when she obtained again on the court docket. But after two video games with lower than six factors, the rookie retained her impression. In the final 16 video games of her season, Rice had 13 double-digit scoring nights. 

“My injury and like having to you know fight through that and battle through some adversity there,” Rice stated when requested about essentially the most defining second of her yr. “Obviously, you never want to get hurt, but just the mindset of being able to come back in, and after almost two months of being out, and continue to get better and continue to learn the game. I think that kind of taught me a lot about myself.” 

The all-rookie ended the yr on a 28-point efficiency, her better of the season and clear proof of her continued enchancment on the court docket. 

“I think she plays at a really good pace. Oftentimes young players get fed up. I think she does a really good job of maintaining her poise, her composure, playing at the pace that she wants to play at,” Fever head coach Stephanie White stated earlier than the sport on Sept. 18. “And I think she’s a better defender than most people gave her credit for.”

Rice was a driving machine in that recreation in opposition to the Fever. Bigger our bodies like Aliyah Boston didn’t make her fearful and pressure her to again off. She added 18 factors within the loss — most of which got here from driving layups in opposition to a number of defenders — and had six rebounds. As White stated, she maintained poise even when up in opposition to two MVP contenders.

Marina Mabrey and Rice didn’t finish off the yr collectively due to Mabrey’s adductor harm, however their shared time in August gave a glimpse on the budding connection the Tempo already possess. 

“I thought we — Kiki and I — had some really great chemistry out there. Even when I missed some time, she missed some time, and I feel like every time we came back, it was like we had been playing together for a while,” Mabrey stated.

After profitable a nationwide championship with UCLA final season, the 22-year-old had nearly no break earlier than gearing up for skilled play. 

“You play so many more games at the W level than you did in college. So it’s like each game, in some ways, like isn’t as big of a deal because you’re not having a week to prep for it or a week after that you’re watching film from the same game. But it’s like you got to respond quick, you got to learn on the fly,” Rice stated.

Rice’s 2026 season was a whirlwind. She began the yr because the Bruins’ lead level guard and helped lead the staff to the Final Four and a hoop. Then, only one month and three days later, she was in Canada tipping off in opposition to the Mystics, not in the start line guard place, and about to get much more conversant in dropping. 

“We only lost one game last year, my senior year of college, and so this year is just having a new mentality. I mean, I think the biggest thing that you know I had to kind of understand this year is that you know I’m joining something new, a new franchise, a new team, and it’s all about growth, all about development,” Rice stated.

As a part of her growth within the low season, Rice declared she’s going to play in Unrivaled and has joined the league on a multi-year deal. 

She’ll compete within the American skilled 3-on-3 league alongside three different Tempo gamers (Aneesah Morrow, Brittney Sykes and Mabrey) who’re presently beneath contract in Toronto. Mabrey additionally has plans for the 2 of them to coach collectively within the low season. 

“I think the off-season is a really good time for us to get in the gym together to work out to learn each other’s game, to get to know each other better, and I think those are the moments that you really look forward to and I’m excited. This is like my first pro off-season, so just figuring out how that goes and definitely looking forward to connecting with Marina,” Rice stated.

Tied for the perfect odds for the highest lottery decide within the draft, the Tempo anticipate to safe one other franchise expertise subsequent spring. Rice, in her final availability earlier than the low season, shared some recommendation she’d have given herself earlier than her first professional recreation. Her knowledge will definitely be helpful for the following rookie that comes alongside. 

“Stay confident. Be ready for adversity. Be ready for ups and downs,” she stated.