Marina Mabrey scored 53 points on Thursday night to tie the WNBA single-game scoring record held by Liz Cambage and A’ja Wilson, leading the Toronto Tempo to a 125-97 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Toronto [1, 2, 3, 4]. Mabrey made 17 of 28 field goals, including nine three-pointers, matching the league's single-game three-point record as well [1, 2, 3, 4]. The game marked Toronto’s franchise single-game high team score [1].

Mabrey scored 19 points in the first quarter, 27 by halftime, and had 39 by the end of the third quarter [3, 4]. She left the game with just over one minute remaining to a standing ovation from the crowd [1, 3, 4]. "None of this happens without my teammates. They really found me, and for a three-point shooter you need your teammates to set screens and deliver the pass, and that’s what they did," Mabrey said [1, 4]. She added, "Like I said, we came out ready to play, our defense led to our offense, and when we can get out in transition, I can get some space to do what I want to do" [3].

Toronto improved to a 9-9 record with the win, while the Sparks fell to 8-9 [1, 2]. Toronto’s team three-point shooting was 20 of 42, compared to Los Angeles’ 11 of 38 from beyond the arc [2]. Julie Allemand also contributed 13 points and 14 assists for the Tempo [1, 2].

Los Angeles was without season-leading scorer Kelsey Plum due to a leg injury sustained earlier in the week [2]. Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 21 points each [1, 2].

The game took place at Toronto’s home court during the team's inaugural WNBA season [4]. Mabrey’s sister Michaela was at the game and shared an emotional moment with her afterwards, as Mabrey remarked, "My sister doesn't get to come see me play that much so I was happy she was here to see it, somebody from my family on a historic night" [3, 4].

The night added to Mabrey’s recent hot streak, having tied the single-game three-point record with nine triples and scored a career-high 37 points just days earlier in a win over Connecticut on June 19 [2]. Toronto’s franchise record-setting scoring and Mabrey’s performance set a high point in their first WNBA season.

The next major games will continue the Tempo’s push to rise in the standings as they aim to solidify their playoff position.