Kelsey Mitchell was the standout scorer with 29 points as the Indiana Fever secured a 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday.
Star player Caitlin Clark contributed 24 points and seven assists, helping Indiana (25-13) achieve its fifth consecutive win. Numerous fans at Scotiabank Arena donned Clark jerseys in support.
Brittney Sykes returned to the Tempo (10-24) lineup, scoring 15 points along with five assists and two rebounds after being sidelined for two months due to an injury.
All-star Marina Mabrey scored 22 points as Toronto faced its 11th straight defeat. Bench player Aneesah Morrow recorded a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, setting a new franchise record.
Sykes had previously missed games due to a left plantar fascia injury sustained in a June 16 matchup against the Fever.
The Tempo lost 10 consecutive games without her presence on the court.
Toronto was in contention for a playoff berth before their losing streak but now holds the third-worst record in the WNBA, just above the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm, both of which have already been mathematically ruled out of the postseason.
Key Takeaways
Fever: As the highest-scoring team in the WNBA, Indiana demonstrated its offensive prowess, averaging 96.2 points per game before Tuesday’s match. The Fever excelled in outside shooting, hitting 11 of 25 three-pointers (44 percent) and scoring 50 points in the paint.
Tempo: Despite never leading and facing a deficit of up to 17 points, Toronto showed some encouraging statistics. The Tempo accumulated 22 second-chance points compared to the Fever’s nine, out-rebounded Indiana 41-32, and their bench contributed 38 points against Indiana’s 20.
Crucial Moment
Mabrey attempted a three-pointer in the closing seconds while Toronto trailed by four, but the referees called the shot dead for palming.
Significant Stat
The Tempo’s offense continued to falter, converting only 34 of 87 (39.1 percent) field-goal attempts, including 12 of 37 (32.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead
Fever: They will face the Dallas Wings on Thursday.
Tempo: They are set to visit the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.