Temi Fagbenle signs reported $1 million deal with Toronto Tempo
Temi Fagbenle has signed a reported one-year, $1 million deal with the Toronto Tempo, marking another landmark moment for British basketball in the WNBA.
ESPN reported the agreement, citing Fagbenle’s agent Marcus Crenshaw, with the Great Britain centre joining the league’s first franchise outside the United States ahead of Toronto’s inaugural season.
The 6’4 centre arrives after a strong season with the Golden State Valkyries, where ESPN described her as emerging as a “top-five defensive center” in the WNBA. Fagbenle averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a starter for Golden State.
Toronto general manager Monica Wright Rogers said Fagbenle brings the type of identity the Tempo want to build around.
“Temi brings consistency and toughness to everything she does,” Rogers said. “She plays the game the right way — defending, rebounding, finishing around the rim and doing the work that impacts winning. Her experience anchoring the paint as a starter and her ability to contribute on both ends make her an important addition as we continue to shape our identity.”
Fagbenle, who represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, won a WNBA title with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017 after being drafted by the franchise in the third round in 2016. She has also played for the Indiana Fever and Golden State.
The deal comes at a time of growing visibility for British women in the WNBA, with Holly Winterburn also in training camp with the Atlanta Dream. Speaking during her first Dream media availability, Winterburn pointed to Fagbenle’s contract as proof of what British players can achieve at the highest level.
“Temi’s the pioneer right now,” Winterburn said. “She just signed a huge contract, and that’s huge for her and for British basketball.”
Fagbenle’s move gives Toronto a proven veteran interior presence and adds another major milestone to a British career that has already included Olympic representation, a WNBA championship, and a growing reputation as one of the league’s most reliable defensive frontcourt players.
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