Mabrey's Record-Setting Performance
Marina Mabrey Ties WNBA Record with Nine 3s, Leads Toronto Tempo to Comeback Win
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Key Points
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Brittney Sykes was out with a plantar fascia injury, with the Sporting News describing it as keeping her out “for a little while,” forcing Toronto to rely more heavily on Mabrey.
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Beyond her 37-point surge, Mabrey also posted all-around production—she played 33 minutes, went 14-for-24 from the field, and finished with four rebounds, four assists, and a team-high plus-21.
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Connecticut’s scoring contributions didn’t match Toronto’s second-half run: Kennedy Burke led the Sun with 18 points off the bench, while Leila Lacan and Brittney Griner had 16 each and Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored 13—marking a seventh straight Connecticut loss.
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The nine-3-pointer feat was tied to an extremely short list of players: Sporting News noted that Rhyne Howard has done it twice, and that Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Kelsey Mitchell have also recorded nine 3-pointers in a game.
Marina Mabrey put on one of the greatest shooting performances in WNBA history on Thursday night, scoring a career-high 37 points and tying the single-game record with nine 3-pointers as the Toronto Tempo rallied from 16 points down to beat the Connecticut Sun 101-97, according to CBC. Mabrey went 9-for-12 from beyond the arc — a 75% clip — and erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter alone to complete the stunning comeback.
The win snapped Toronto's three-game losing streak and extended Connecticut's skid to seven straight losses. The Tempo did it all without star guard Brittney Sykes, who sat out with a plantar fascia injury that is expected to keep her sidelined "for a little while," per Sporting News.
Mabrey Torches the Sun in Historic Fourth Quarter
Connecticut looked in control at halftime, leading 50-37. Then Mabrey found her rhythm. She hit three quick 3-pointers early in the third quarter to start closing the gap, per The Globe and Mail. By the fourth quarter, she was unstoppable. Toronto outscored Connecticut 64-47 in the second half — a jaw-dropping reversal against a veteran defense.
Mabrey finished with 14-of-24 shooting from the field, four rebounds, four assists, and a team-high plus-21 rating in 33 minutes. After the game, she kept the focus on the team. "When Britt went down, we knew everyone had to elevate," Mabrey said. "Tying a record is an honor, but the comeback win means more for this expansion group."
Mabrey Joins Elite Club of Nine-3-Pointer Scorers
Nine 3-pointers in a single WNBA game is extraordinarily rare. Sporting News notes that only six other players have ever done it. Rhyne Howard is the only player to reach the mark twice. Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Kelsey Mitchell have each done it once. Mabrey now stands alongside all of them.
What sets Mabrey's performance apart is her efficiency. Most players who reached nine 3-pointers needed 14 or more attempts. Mabrey needed only 12 tries. Her 75% accuracy from deep puts her among the most efficient performances of any player in that record-tying group.
Fagbenle and Conde Step Up Without Sykes
Mabrey was not alone. Temi Fagbenle was quietly dominant inside, scoring 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and pulling down nine rebounds, according to CBC. Her presence in the paint stretched Connecticut's defense and opened space for Mabrey's 3-point barrage. Maria Conde added 19 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Sykes' absence due to a plantar fascia injury — a painful tear in tissue along the bottom of the foot — forced Toronto to rely more heavily on Mabrey as the primary offensive engine. The results suggest the Tempo have more depth than their early-season record implied.
Connecticut's Seven-Game Slide Deepens After Collapse
The Sun's scoring was spread thin. Kennedy Burke led Connecticut with 18 points off the bench. Leila Lacan and Brittney Griner each added 16, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa chipped in 13, per Head Topics. But their defense fell apart in the second half. Connecticut's coaching staff drew criticism for sticking with a drop-coverage scheme — where defenders sag off the ball-handler — even after Mabrey's fifth and sixth 3-pointers.
The Sun have now lost seven straight games. Questions are growing about whether a veteran roster built around Griner can keep up with younger, high-volume shooting teams. The loss to an expansion franchise in the middle of a historic comeback only adds to the pressure.
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