Sykes and – Brittney Sykes scored 31 and Marina Mabrey poured in 30 as the Toronto Tempo claimed a 98-90 win over the Phoenix Mercury at Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday, moving to 3-2 in their debut season. The pair became the first teammates in WNBA history to each sc
The Toronto Tempo were locked in a game that felt like it could swing either way—until the fourth quarter arrived and everything finally snapped into place.
On Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Center, the Tempo upset the Phoenix Mercury 98-90 to notch their third win of their debut campaign and improve to 3-2. It was nip-and-tuck until Toronto opened the fourth quarter with a 12-4 run. The Mercury tried to roar back, but the Tempo held firm.
Brittney Sykes carried the charge for Toronto with a game-high 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting, adding seven rebounds and six assists. Marina Mabrey wasn’t far behind, scoring 30 points that included six three-pointers, along with five rebounds and three assists.
Sykes and Mabrey’s night carries a stamp that won’t fade. ESPN Insights said the two became the first teammates in league history to each reach 30 points in a game during a franchise’s first season.
Sykes didn’t cool off after her previous outing, either. She maintained her hot streak following a 38-point performance in the Tempo’s 106-96 win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. Mabrey, in that Sparks game, recorded 14 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
At 32 years old, Sykes has been a driver for Toronto so far—leading the Tempo in points, assists, and steals. She signed a two-year deal with the team after splitting her time last year between the Washington Mystics and the Seattle Storm. when she averaged 14.1 points. 3.2 rebounds. 4.0 assists. and 1.2 steals.
Mabrey, 29, arrives with a different path but the same responsibility. The Tempo drafted her as the sixth overall pick in the expansion draft. Last season with the Connecticut Sun, she averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Toronto’s coaching staff and roster now lean on them to do more than score—providing leadership and carrying larger roles in an expansion learning curve that can be steep. For a team still building its identity, nights like this are the kind that make the work look real.
The Tempo will try to keep that momentum going when they face the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday.
WNBA Toronto Tempo Phoenix Mercury Brittney Sykes Marina Mabrey Mortgage Matchup Center Minnesota Lynx expansion draft WNBA history
So they just outscored them by 8 and everyone’s acting like it’s a miracle lol.
I don’t even watch WNBA but 98-90 is crazy close. Like how did Phoenix let that 4th quarter happen??
“First teammates in WNBA history” sounds like clickbait, I feel like that’s never been done before? unless it’s about some specific franchise first season thing. Also Sykes 31 and Mabrey 30?? that’s basically cheating, Toronto finally turned into a real team.
Wait, isn’t Sykes from the Sparks like back when? I’m confused. But anyway 12-4 run in the 4th quarter is probably the whole story, Mercury always choke when it matters. Also ESPN Insights… first teammates to each reach 30 points?? sounds cool but I’m sure it happened somewhere in the past, they just word it weird.