Marina Mabrey achieved a WNBA scoring milestone, tallying 53 points, as the Toronto Tempo decisively defeated the Los Angeles Sparks with a final score of 125-97 during their Thursday evening matchup.
Mabrey’s performance equaled the record previously established by Liz Cambage playing for Dallas versus New York on July 17, 2018, and later matched by A’ja Wilson representing Las Vegas in Atlanta on August 22, 2023.
As she departed the game with just one minute left on the clock, the spectators initially expressed disappointment with light boos before transitioning into an outburst of applause, recognizing her exceptional evening. The final seconds elapsed amid persistent shouts of “We Want Mabrey! We Want Mabrey!”
Mabrey connected on 17 of 28 shots from the floor, reached the WNBA benchmark for successful 3-point shots by hitting nine out of 18 tries, and converted 10 of her 12 free throw opportunities. The 29-year-old athlete, a former standout from Notre Dame, significantly surpassed the fledgling team’s prior individual scoring best of 38 points, a mark previously reached twice by Brittney Sykes.
Julie Allemand contributed 13 points and 14 assists for the Toronto squad during what became the highest-scoring contest in the franchise’s brief existence.
Mabrey now stands as the third athlete in WNBA annals to achieve 53 points, alongside Liz Cambage and A’ja Wilson. – Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images/Reuters
Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby each registered 21 points, leading the scoring efforts for the Sparks.
Toronto elevated its record to .500 with a 9-9 standing, while Los Angeles’s record dropped to 8-9.
The Tempo initiated a series of nine consecutive home matches, two of which are slated to take place at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
