Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey Ties WNBA Record With Nine 3-Pointers in 37-Point Performance

Marina Mabrey delivered a historic shooting performance on Friday night, burying nine 3-pointers to tie the WNBA single-game record and lift the expansion Toronto Tempo to a thrilling 101-97 comeback victory over the Connecticut Sun. The spectacular display snapped a three-game losing streak for the Tempo and instantly became a signature moment for the league's newest franchise. Mabrey was nearly flawless from beyond the arc, shooting an astonishing 9-of-12 from deep. She finished the night with a career-high 37 points, adding four rebounds and four assists to round out a dominant offensive showing that left defenders scrambling and the crowd in awe.[1][2]

The record-tying performance places Mabrey in elite company in WNBA history, highlighting the league's ongoing offensive explosion and the increasing emphasis on perimeter shooting. Tying the all-time mark for threes in a single game cements her status as one of the premier sharpshooters in the sport today. Analysts across the basketball landscape were quick to praise her mechanics and shot selection, noting that achieving such volume with a 75 percent success rate from deep is a statistical anomaly even in the modern pace-and-space era.[3][5]

The historic night was born out of necessity, as the Tempo found themselves in a deep hole early in the contest. The Sun dominated the interior during the first half, imposing their will on the glass and generating high-percentage looks near the basket. Connecticut built a commanding 16-point advantage in the second quarter, fueled by a massive 28-10 scoring edge in the paint. At that juncture, the expansion Tempo appeared overmatched by the veteran Sun roster, struggling to find clean looks against a physical defensive front.[4][6]

Connecticut carried a comfortable 50-37 lead into halftime, with Brittney Griner and Olivia Nelson-Ododa controlling the boards and finishing efficiently around the rim. The Sun's game plan appeared to be working flawlessly, as they successfully neutralized Toronto's perimeter threats while capitalizing on their size advantage inside. Entering the locker room, the momentum was entirely on Connecticut's side, leaving the Tempo with a monumental task if they hoped to salvage the game and snap their three-game skid.[4][6]

However, Toronto flipped the script entirely after the break, outscoring Connecticut 64-47 in a breathtaking second-half surge. The Tempo tightened their defensive rotations, forced crucial turnovers, and began finding Mabrey in transition, sparking a massive momentum shift that completely altered the trajectory of the game. The energy in the arena shifted palpably as Toronto began chipping away at the deficit, utilizing a faster pace to prevent the Sun's defense from setting up in the half-court.[2][4]

Mabrey took complete control in the final frame, pouring in an incredible 21 of her 37 points in the fourth quarter alone. She hit clutch shot after clutch shot against her former team, displaying remarkable poise under pressure. Her crucial layup put Toronto in front by one point with just over three minutes left, and she followed it up with a dagger 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining to give the Tempo a four-point lead they would not relinquish. The sheer volume and efficiency of her late-game scoring left the Sun without any viable defensive answers.[4][5]

While Mabrey was the undisputed star of the night, she received vital support from her teammates to complete the comeback. Temi Fagbenle was highly efficient in the frontcourt, missing only one shot to finish 8-for-9 from the floor with 19 points and nine rebounds. Maria Conde also provided a crucial spark off the bench for the injury-depleted Tempo, matching Fagbenle with 19 points and adding six rebounds of her own. Isabelle Harrison chipped in 15 points to help balance the offensive load, proving that Toronto's roster possesses the depth necessary to compete at a high level.[2][4][5]

For the Connecticut Sun, the second-half collapse marked a devastating blow, extending their current losing streak to seven consecutive games. Despite a balanced effort that saw Kennedy Burke score 18 points off the bench, Leila Lacan add 16, and Brittney Griner contribute heavily inside, the Sun were simply unable to withstand Toronto's perimeter barrage. The inability to protect a 16-point lead highlights ongoing defensive vulnerabilities for Connecticut, particularly when defending the three-point line against elite shooters in late-game situations.[2][6]

The victory serves as a landmark moment for the Toronto Tempo in their inaugural season. Erasing a massive deficit against an established opponent proves the expansion franchise's resilience and establishes Mabrey as a legitimate offensive centerpiece capable of taking over any game. As the WNBA continues to grow and evolve, performances like Mabrey's 37-point, 9-three-pointer masterpiece serve as a testament to the rising skill level across the league, thrilling fans and setting a high bar for the rest of the season.[1][3][5]

Looking ahead, the Tempo will aim to use this signature win as a catalyst for the remainder of their inaugural campaign. With Mabrey operating at a historic level and the supporting cast demonstrating their ability to step up in crucial moments, Toronto has officially announced themselves as a competitive force in the WNBA. For the rest of the league, the message is clear: no lead is safe when Marina Mabrey catches fire from beyond the arc, and the expansion Tempo are not to be underestimated.[1][5]