Marina Mabrey scored 53 points to tie the WNBA single-game record as the Toronto Tempo beat the Los Angeles Sparks 125-97 on Thursday night. Her 17 made field goals in 32 minutes, nine 3-pointers, and free-throw production helped Toronto reach 9-9 in its inaug
Make room in the record books: Marina Mabrey didn’t just have a big night—she reached a number the WNBA has only seen a handful of times.
In a 125-97 win for the Toronto Tempo over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points. She joined A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage as the only players in league history to score that many points in one contest.
Mabrey played 32 minutes, shooting 17-of-28 from the floor, 9-of-18 from the 3-point line, and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Her nine made baskets from behind the arc also tied a WNBA single-game record, matching Chelsea Gray and Rhyne Howard.
She wasn’t limited to scoring. Mabrey added six rebounds and two assists as Toronto improved to 9-9 in its inaugural season. After the game, she credited the offense that fed her—screens, spacing, and the pass into her rhythm.
“None of this happens without my teammates,” Mabrey said. “They really found me. For a 3-point shooter, you need your teammates to set screens and deliver the pass, and that’s what they did.”
Mabrey’s previous career-high was 37 points. She exited with just more than a minute remaining and received a standing ovation from Tempo fans. With Toronto leading comfortably by 32 points, she hugged head coach Sandy Brondello before sitting on the bench.
That moment is expected to be captured in “Setting the Tempo,” a forthcoming four-part ESPN docuseries about the team’s first season.
The performance is even more striking when placed against her season and her role. A 29-year-old guard from New Jersey, Mabrey played college basketball at Notre Dame and was the No. 6 overall pick by the Tempo in the expansion draft this year. Toronto then signed her to a two-year deal worth $2.4 million.
Before Thursday’s game. Mabrey entered ranked eighth in the league in scoring with 19.8 points per game and second in 3-pointers made per game with 3.2. In her eighth WNBA season, she’s also chasing her first All-Star nod. Before joining the Tempo, she spent time with the Sparks, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Connecticut Sun.
Her impact isn’t confined to the WNBA. Mabrey has also shined in Unrivaled this season, leading the professional 3×3 league in scoring with 25.3 points per game. In one Unrivaled game, she knocked down 10 3-pointers.
WNBA Marina Mabrey Toronto Tempo Los Angeles Sparks A'ja Wilson Liz Cambage Chelsea Gray Rhyne Howard Sandy Brondello ESPN Setting the Tempo