By Visarion Cika –
The Connecticut Sun hosted the Toronto Tempo on Friday night, in a matchup between two teams heading in different directions early in the WNBA season. The Tempo enter the contest with a 7-8 record and are looking to snap a three-game skid, while the Sun are trying to reverse a six-game losing streak, and build momentum in front of their home crowd.
The Sun came out firing in the first quarter, knocking down 50 percent of their three-point attempts (2-of-4) and setting the tone early. Connecticut held the advantage in every major statistical category during the opening frame.
Brittney Griner was a dominant presence in the paint and on the glass, leading the way with six points, one rebound, and a block as the Sun established early control. Toronto maintained its composure and stayed within striking distance throughout the opening quarter, connecting on four three-pointers to keep pace with Connecticut’s hot start.
Marina Mabrey led the offensive charge with 11 first-quarter points of her own. Despite Toronto’s strong perimeter shooting, the Sun carried a 24-20 advantage into the second quarter.
Connecticut continued to shoot the ball efficiently in the second quarter, maintaining its lead and controlling the tempo. The Sun dominated the paint, led by Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who provided a strong interior presence and helped fuel the offense. Toronto struggled on both ends of the floor throughout the period, unable to make a meaningful dent in the deficit.
A crowd-energizing and-one basket from Leïla Lacan pushed Connecticut’s advantage into double digits and ignited the home crowd. Things were beginning to look rough for Toronto, but Maria Conde and Isabelle Harrison knocked down a pair of timely three-pointers to keep their team within reach. Despite the late surge, Connecticut carried a comfortable 50-37 lead into halftime.
Toronto came out of halftime with renewed energy, opening the third quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to six points. Despite the early surge, Connecticut responded and maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the period. Isabelle Harrison and Marina Mabrey paced Toronto’s offense, while the Sun received contributions from across the lineup.
The standout performer was Kennedy Burke, who erupted in the third quarter with 13 points and three rebounds, providing a major spark for Connecticut. The difference throughout the quarter was the Sun’s physicality and intensity, as they looked like a completely different team compared to their previous six games. Connecticut entered the fourth quarter with a 74-64 lead and appeared determined to finish the job.
The Sun opened the fourth quarter with physical defense that energized the crowd and set the tone early. Leïla Lacan delivered a momentum-shifting three-pointer and followed it up with a smooth mid-range jumper, helping Connecticut maintain control.
Toronto refused to go away, however, as Marina Mabrey continued her outstanding offensive performance for the Tempo. Kennedy Burke remained a major factor for the Sun, building on her stellar night with more timely scoring.
As the quarter progressed, Mabrey caught fire, repeatedly finding ways to score and bringing Toronto back within single digits. Annesah Morrow was tremendous on the glass, creating extra possessions and keeping the Sun’s offense flowing.
Toronto’s hot shooting from beyond the arc fueled a furious comeback, trimming Connecticut’s lead to just one point with 4:15 remaining. Down the stretch, Mabrey was nearly unstoppable, creating offense at will and keeping the pressure squarely on the Sun. The Sun let the lead slip through their fingers in the fourth quarter as Mabrey finished the night with a game-high 37 points, including 21 in the final frame.
Her relentless scoring fueled Toronto’s comeback, allowing the Tempo to erase what had once been a comfortable Connecticut advantage and turn the game into a nail-biter down the stretch. The Tempo completed the comeback and pulled away late to secure a thrilling 101-97 victory, improving to an 8-8 record, while the Sun fell to 2-15.
The Sun return to action to host the Chicago Sky on Monday.