Kelsey Mitchell was the top scorer with 29 points in the Indiana Fever’s hard-fought 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday. The Indiana team, now boasting a 25-13 record, secured their fifth consecutive win, with standout Caitlin Clark contributing 24 points and seven assists. The Scotiabank Arena witnessed numerous fans donning Clark jerseys in support.
Brittney Sykes made a strong return for the Tempo (10-24) lineup after a two-month injury absence, scoring 15 points, adding five assists and two rebounds. Despite Marina Mabrey’s impressive 22-point performance for Toronto, the team 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’ absence due to a left plantar fascia injury had a significant impact, with Toronto losing 10 consecutive games without her presence. The Tempo, once contenders for a playoff position, now hold the third-worst record in the WNBA, trailing only the Connecticut Sun and the Seattle Storm, both of which have been eliminated from postseason contention.
In terms of takeaways, the Fever, known for their high-scoring abilities, matched their season average of 96.2 points per game, particularly excelling in three-point shooting with an 11-for-25 performance (44%) and 50 points scored in the paint. Despite trailing throughout the game and facing a 17-point deficit, the Tempo showed promise with 22 second-chance points, superior rebounding (41-32), and a strong bench contribution of 38 points compared to Indiana’s 20.
A key moment in the game occurred when Mabrey sank a crucial three-pointer with seconds remaining, narrowing the gap to four points, but the shot was disallowed by officials due to a palming violation. The Tempo struggled offensively, converting 39.1% of their field-goal attempts (34 of 87) and shooting 32.4% from beyond the arc (12 of 37).
Looking ahead, the Fever will face the Dallas Wings on Thursday, while the Tempo are scheduled to play the Washington Mystics on Wednesday.