Marina Mabrey tied the WNBA's single-game scoring record with 53 points, spearheading the Toronto Tempo to a 125-97 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. Mabrey shot 9 of 18 from three-point range, matching the league record for made three-pointers in a game, and also tied A'ja Wilson (2023) and Liz Cambage (2018) for the highest single-game scoring total in WNBA history.
Record-breaking performance
Mabrey had already tied the league's three-point record earlier this season, hitting nine in a June 19 win over Connecticut, where she set a then-career-high 37 points. On Thursday, she surpassed that mark three quarters into the game with 39 points, then erupted for another 14 in the fourth quarter to match the scoring record. Tempo coach Sandy Brondello praised her performance postgame in a video posted by Prime Sports: "I've been doing this for quite some time, and even I haven't seen a shooting performance like that, Marina. It was amazing. You know who you are, you know what you can do and the confidence that you have is great."
Dominant team effort
Toronto (9-9) never trailed, jumping out to a 19-6 lead less than four minutes into the game behind three-pointers from Mabrey, Maria Conde, and Julie Allemand. The Tempo's lead grew to as many as 35 points, with the team shooting 20 of 42 (47.6%) from beyond the arc. Conde finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, shooting 3 of 5 from three-point range. Allemand was a perfect 3 of 3 from three-point distance, contributing 13 points and a career-high 14 assists. Laura Juskaite added 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds off the bench.
Sparks struggle without key players
Los Angeles (8-9) was without leading scorer Kelsey Plum, who sustained a leg injury in a Sunday win over New York. The Sparks also missed rotational forward Cameron Brink due to an ankle injury. Starting guards Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins were both in foul trouble, limiting their effectiveness. The Sparks shot 11 of 38 (28.9%) from three-point range, while Mabrey nearly matched that total on her own with nine made threes. Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby each scored 21 points for Los Angeles, with Hamby grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Rae Burrell added 17 points.
Expansion Tempo return to .500
The expansion Toronto Tempo improved to 9-9 after splitting a two-game series with the Sparks in Los Angeles last month. Both of those contests were competitive, but Thursday's game was a blowout from the start. The Tempo's 125 points marked a season high, showcasing their offensive firepower with Mabrey leading the charge.
