Fresh off the first victory in Toronto Tempo history, the expansion franchise heads out on its initial road trip, beginning the first of back-to-back games at Los Angeles against the Sparks on Friday.
Marina Mabrey scored 26 points and Brittney Sykes added 18 as the Tempo finished off a victory to remember by getting past the visiting Seattle Storm 86-73 on Wednesday.
Toronto (1-1) dominated the second half, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a relatively easy victory by outscoring Seattle 42-28 in the second half. The Tempo made seven 3-pointers after halftime while holding the Storm to one.
More decisively, the Tempo forced 11 second-half turnovers that they turned into 14 points and took 12 more shots from the floor than their opponent over the final two quarters. The Storm committed 19 turnovers in the game that Toronto parlayed into 26 points.
True to their name, the Tempo had a 17-2 advantage in fastbreak points and 21 assists on 30 made field goals.
“Moving the ball, playing together, it looks good,” Toronto coach Sandy Brondello said. “We can keep getting better, but it’s nice to get the win.”
The Sparks are winless over their first two games following an 87-78 home loss to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday. Kelsey Plum scored 25 points to lead Los Angeles, and Dearica Hamby added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Los Angeles was blitzed 24-14 in the second quarter and trailed 48-34 at halftime. The Fever shot 55.9% in the first half and made nine 3-pointers in the game. The Sparks sank just two treys on 15 attempts (13.3%).
“I have all the faith in the world that when the regular season is over, we will be there in the playoffs and pushing,” said Plum, who led a late-season push last year that saw the Sparks fall just short of the postseason. “So I have faith that it’s just the process.”
Sparks forward Sania Feagin was out on Wednesday due to a left leg injury that keep her sidelined on Friday, too. Los Angeles guard Ariel Atkins left the Indiana contest with a head injury and did not return. She entered concussion protocol and will not play on Friday.
Tempo center Temi Fagbenle (shoulder) will miss a second consecutive game on Friday, while forward Isabelle Harrison (hand) will sit out her third straight contest.
–Field Level Media
