Kelsey Mitchell’s stellar performance with 29 points led the Indiana Fever to a hard-fought 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday. Indiana, now at 25-13, secured their fifth consecutive win, with standout Caitlin Clark contributing 24 points and seven assists. Fans at Scotiabank Arena sported Clark jerseys in support.
Making a triumphant return to the Tempo lineup after a two-month absence due to injury, Brittney Sykes scored 15 points, in addition to five assists and two rebounds. Meanwhile, Marina Mabrey’s 22 points were not enough for Toronto as they suffered their 11th straight defeat. Aneesah Morrow set a new franchise record with a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds coming off the bench.
Sykes had been sidelined with a left plantar fascia injury sustained during a game against the Fever on June 16, a period during which Toronto lost 10 consecutive games without her presence. Previously in contention for a playoff spot, the Tempo now hold the third-worst record in the WNBA, trailing only the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm, who are already out of post-season contention.
In terms of gameplay, Indiana, the highest-scoring team in the league, lived up to their reputation by scoring 96.2 points per game. They excelled in three-point shooting, making 11 of 25 attempts and dominated with 50 points in the paint. Despite never holding a lead and falling behind by as many as 17 points, Toronto showcased promise with 22 second-chance points, outrebounding the visitors 41-32, and their bench contributing 38 points compared to Indiana’s 20.
An important moment in the game saw Mabrey hitting a three-pointer in the closing seconds, seemingly closing the gap to four points, but the shot was annulled for a palming violation. Toronto continued to struggle offensively, converting only 39.1% (34 of 87) of their field-goal attempts, including 32.4% (12 of 37) from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Fever will face the Dallas Wings on Thursday, while the Tempo are set to play against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.
