Marina Mabrey ties WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points in Toronto Tempo's 125-97 rout of Los Angeles Sparks

Record-tying night

Marina Mabrey matched the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points on Thursday night, leading the Toronto Tempo to a 125-97 rout of the Los Angeles Sparks at Scotiabank Arena. The 29-year-old guard shot 17 of 28 from the field, including 9 of 18 from three-point range, and made 10 of 12 free throws. She tied the mark set by Liz Cambage for Dallas against New York on July 17, 2018, and equaled by A'ja Wilson for Las Vegas at Atlanta on August 22, 2023. Mabrey had already tied the league's three-point record with nine triples in a June 19 win over Connecticut, when she scored a then-career-high 37 points. She eclipsed that personal best by the end of the third quarter on Thursday, reaching 39 points before adding 14 more in the final period.

Game flow

Toronto never trailed, storming to a 19-6 lead less than four minutes in behind three-pointers from Mabrey, Maria Conde and Julie Allemand. The advantage ballooned to 35 points as the Tempo shot a blistering 20 of 42 from beyond the arc. Mabrey's nine made three-pointers were nearly as many as the Sparks hit as a team (11 of 38). When she checked out with a minute remaining, the crowd briefly booed before erupting into cheers and chants of "We Want Mabrey!" The 125 points marked the highest-scoring game in the expansion franchise's short history.

Supporting cast

Allemand finished a perfect 3 of 3 from deep, totaling 13 points and a career-high 14 assists. Conde added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Laura Juskaite posted a double-double off the bench with 10 points and a game-high 12 boards. The previous team individual scoring high was 38 points, achieved twice by Brittney Sykes.

Sparks struggle

Los Angeles (8-9) was led by Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby with 21 points apiece; Ogwumike also grabbed seven rebounds and Hamby nine. Rae Burrell contributed 17 points. The Sparks were without leading scorer Kelsey Plum, sidelined by a leg injury sustained in Sunday's win over New York, and rotational forward Cameron Brink due to an ankle injury. Starting guards Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins were mired in foul trouble, and the team could not recover from the early deficit.

What's next

The win lifted Toronto back to.500 at 9-9. The Tempo opened a nine-game homestand that includes two games at Montreal's Bell Centre. They host Phoenix on Saturday, while the Sparks travel to Indiana.