Kelsey Mitchell was the top scorer with 29 points, guiding the Indiana Fever to a 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo in their latest match on Tuesday. Caitlin Clark, a standout player, contributed 24 points and seven assists, helping Indiana secure its fifth consecutive win. A large number of spectators at Scotiabank Arena sported Clark’s jerseys in support.
After missing two months due to injury, Brittney Sykes made a strong return for the Tempo, recording 15 points, five assists, and two rebounds. Despite a notable performance by all-star Marina Mabrey with 22 points, Toronto suffered their 11th consecutive loss. Aneesah Morrow, coming off the bench, achieved a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, setting a new franchise record.
Sykes had been sidelined with a left plantar fascia injury sustained during a match against the Fever on June 16. Toronto struggled, losing 10 consecutive games without her presence on the court. The Tempo, once in contention for a playoff spot, now possess the third-worst record in the WNBA, surpassing only the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm, both of which are already out of playoff contention.
In terms of gameplay, the Fever, known for their high-scoring offense averaging 96.2 points per game, showcased their prowess by shooting 44% from three-point range (11 for 25) and tallying 50 points in the paint. Despite never leading and facing a deficit of up to 17 points, the Tempo displayed promising stats. They accumulated 22 second-chance points compared to the Fever’s nine, outrebounded Indiana 41-32, and had their bench players contribute 38 points, outscoring Indiana’s bench by 18 points.
The game’s key moment came when Mabrey sank a three-pointer in the final seconds, cutting the deficit to four, only for the shot to be invalidated by officials for a palming violation. The Tempo struggled offensively, converting 39.1% of their field-goal attempts (34 of 87) and 32.4% from beyond the arc (12 of 37).
Looking ahead, the Fever will face the Dallas Wings on Thursday, while the Tempo are set to play against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.
