Kelsey Mitchell was the top scorer with 29 points in the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 victory against the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday. Caitlin Clark, the standout player, contributed 24 points and seven assists as Indiana extended its winning streak to five games. Fans at Scotiabank Arena showed their support by wearing Clark jerseys.
Brittney Sykes returned to the Tempo lineup with 15 points, five assists, and two rebounds after being sidelined for two months due to injury. Marina Mabrey, a WNBA all-star, scored 22 points for Toronto, who suffered their 11th consecutive loss. Aneesah Morrow, a reserve player, set a new franchise record with a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Sykes had been out with a left plantar fascia injury sustained in a previous game against the Fever, during which Toronto lost ten games in a row. Despite being in contention for a playoff spot before the losing streak, the Tempo now hold the third-worst record in the WNBA, ahead of the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm, who have both been eliminated from playoff contention.
Fever showcased their offensive prowess by living up to their league-leading average of 96.2 points per game, shooting 44% from three-point range and scoring 50 points in the paint. Although Toronto never led and faced a deficit of up to 17 points, they had some positive statistics, including 22 second-chance points, a 41-32 rebounding advantage over Indiana, and 38 bench points compared to Indiana’s 20.
A crucial moment in the game was when Marina Mabrey hit a three-pointer in the final seconds, cutting the lead to four, but the shot was nullified by a palming violation. Toronto’s offensive struggles persisted, with a field goal percentage of 39.1% (34 of 87) and a three-point shooting percentage of 32.4% (12 of 37).
In their upcoming games, the Fever will face the Dallas Wings on Thursday, while the Tempo will visit the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.