Carly Clarke Makes History as First Canadian Coach for WNBA's Toronto Tempo
The Toronto Tempo have hired their first Canadian coach. Carly Clarke, a Halifax native and longtime national team coach, will work as an assistant under Sandy Brondello for the Tempo's inaugural WNBA season, which starts May 8. Clarke has also coached the Toronto Metropolitan University women's basketball team for 14 years, turning the program into a powerhouse. TMU won its third Ontario University Athletics title last month. In 2022, the team went undefeated en route to a national championship. "We're thrilled to welcome Carly to our staff," head coach Brondello said in a statement. "Carly is a coach players trust and respect. She brings tremendous energy, a deep understanding of the game, and a real passion for developing athletes every day. Her experience at every level of sport and her commitment to excellence make her a perfect fit for what we're building." Last week, the Tempo added Olaf Lange, Brondello's husband, as associate head coach. Other previous assistant coaching hires include Ciara Carl (formerly with the Phoenix Mercury), Brian Lankton (who also worked alongside Brondello with the New York Liberty) and Sadie Edwards (from Baylor University). Clarke served as an assistant with Canada's senior women's team at the last two Olympics, and coached Canada to medals at the FIBA under-19 World Cup in 2017 and 2023. "We are proud of the leader Carly has been for our country, and we are thrilled to see her join the Toronto Tempo staff," said Steve Baur, Canada Basketball's general manager and vice-president of women's high performance. "She will continue to elevate the game and inspire the next generation of Canadian talent." The Tempo roster will start to take shape in Friday's expansion draft, which will also stock the Portland Fire.
