Carly Clarke has built an impressive 17-season head coaching career, compiling a 290–214 overall record (.575) and a 286–202 mark in U SPORTS, along with a 29–18 playoff record. Her achievements include a national championship in 2021–22 and multiple Ontario University Athletics titles (2015–16, 2021–22, 2025–26). She began as an assistant at Dalhousie Tigers (2006–2008), helping lead strong seasons, before transitioning to a challenging head coaching role at UPEI Panthers (2009–2012) during a rebuilding phase. Her legacy was cemented at Toronto Metropolitan University (2012–2026), where she transformed the program into a national contender with six Final 8 appearances, highlighted by an undefeated 24–0 championship season in 2021–22 and the program’s first national title.
The TMU Bold’s head coach, Carly Clarke will be moving down a couple blocks and joining the Toronto Tempo.
The WNBA’s new expansion team announced on March 30, that Clarke will be the new Assistant Coach.
As TMU’s women’s head coach for the last 14 years, her switch to this new role in a brand new franchise is monumental. She is also the team’s first Canadian coaching hire.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Carly to our staff,” said Sandy Brondello, the Head Coach of the Tempo in a press release.
“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.”
With Clarke’s resume it’s impossible not to be excited for this transition for Canada’s new WNBA expansion. She led the Bold to a National title in 2022, and was also named OUA Coach of the Year that same year.
Her resume also extends beyond just USPORTS, as she was the assistant coach at the both the 2020, and 2024 Olympics. Her time coaching Canada Basketball’s U19 women’s team led to a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup in 2023 and 2017, the only head coach in Canadian history to lead Canada to multiple medals.
But Clarke’s Canadian basketball resume started much before her coaching career. She played five years at Bishop’s University in the RESQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec), which was then called the Quebec Student Sport Federation (QSSF).
A player from 2001-2006, she acquired one QSSF gold medal, two silver medals and appeared at one Canadian Interuniversity Sports championship, which is now referred to as the U SPORTS Final Eight.
She then joined Dalhousie University immediately after graduating, and coached there for two successful years. The team attended one CIS semi-final, one Atlantic University Sport (AUS) semi-final and won a silver medal at the AUS final in 2007.
She then spent three seasons at the University of Prince Edward Island as their head coach, before heading to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).
Clarke will be joining legendary and two-time WNBA championship winning coach Sandy Brondello, and will begin their inaugural season on May 8.
The Tempo had their expansion draft on April 3, where they did not select any Canadian players, but did acquire many talented players such as Julie Allemand from the Los Angeles Sparks and Marina Mabrey from the Connecticut Sun.
They will play their first pre-season game at the end of April against Mabrey’s former team, and Canadian Aaliyah Edwards
