Fresh off tying the single-game WNBA scoring record with 53 points, Marina Mabrey and the expansion Toronto Tempo host the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday afternoon.
Mabrey is the talk of the league after her record performance in the Tempo’s 125-97 win over Los Angeles on Thursday. The veteran guard went 17 of 28 from the floor, tied the league record by sinking nine 3-pointers and matched Liz Cambage of Dallas (2018) and A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas (2023) for the most points scored by a WNBA player.
Mabrey also helped the Tempo break the record for most points scored by a WNBA team in regulation.
“I think tonight was just my night from the 3-point line and honestly everywhere. It was all going in,” Mabrey said. “And then the fans, to have them chanting ‘MVP,’ I don’t know that I ever imagined that. But it was really a good feeling.”
“I’ve been doing this for quite some time,” said Tempo coach Sandy Brondello. “I’ve never seen that — even Diana Taurasi, and she could shoot it really well. I mean, to witness that was amazing.”
The Tempo (9-9) are tied for eighth place in the league standings. Brondello, who spent the previous four years with the New York Liberty, has brought a fast-paced attack with five players averaging in double figures. The Tempo rank second in the WNBA with 91.4 points per game, but they’re also allowing the second-most points (92.1 ppg).
Mabrey, on her fifth team since joining the WNBA in 2019, is averaging a career-high 21.2 points, tied for fourth in the WNBA.
“To do (this) in the WNBA is kind of like a dream come true and to have teammates that support me and are just looking for me everywhere, want me to do my best — shoutout to them,” Mabrey said. “And shoutout to Sandy for getting me in an offense where I can really thrive.”
Phoenix (6-13) enters Saturday’s game after a 111-109 win in Indiana that was overshadowed by an incident between Mercury star Alyssa Thomas and Fever star Caitlin Clark. Thomas was suspended for Saturday’s game by the WNBA for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Clark.
Fever coach Stephanie White called Thomas’ actions ‘utterly disrespectful’ after the game.
After reaching the WNBA finals last year, Phoenix has struggled with 10 losses by 10 points or less.
“There’s a lot of basketball to be played,” said Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts after the win in Indiana. “We just have to bring toughness and keep competing.”
Thomas’ one-game suspension means the Mercury will be without their No. 2 scorer (14.7 ppg) and the league’s leader in assists (8.4 apg). Phoenix also will play without Serbian guard Jovana Nogic (10.4 ppg), who had her contract temporarily suspended by the team last week.
“We have faced a lot of stuff here early in the season,” Tibbetts said. “A lot of changes, a lot of injuries. It’s been quite a journey.”
Saturday’s game is the first of a back-to-back for Toronto, which is playing home games at Scotiabank Arena and the Coca-Cola Coliseum this season. Toronto beat Phoenix 98-90 on the road May 19.
–Field Level Media
