WNBA : Brittney Sykes fires Toronto to victory as Leila Lacan shines in defeat
The Toronto Tempo keep building momentum in their first WNBA season. Down by 14 during the game, the Canadian franchise came from behind to beat the Connecticut Sun in overtime, 106-102, in the Commissioner’s Cup.
At the heart of it all was Brittney Sykes, who turned in one of the best performances of her career. The American guard matched her personal best with 38 points and underlined her status as the go-to scorer for a team that has now won four of its last five.
Sykes and Mabrey make the difference again
Toronto spent much of the night chasing the game against a Connecticut side that has been struggling for weeks. The Sun still led by nine heading into the final quarter before the Tempo slowly clawed their way back into it. As has been the case so often this season, Brittney Sykes led the charge. Unstoppable around the rim and flawless at the line, hitting 13 of 13 free throws, she finished with 38 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Marina Mabrey also made her presence felt. The former Connecticut player scored 21 points, including several key baskets in the closing stages. Her mid-range jumper with just over a minute left in overtime pulled Toronto level before the final sprint. This win keeps the Tempo rolling, with their record now standing at 7 wins and 5 losses. For an expansion team, those are more than promising signs.
Toronto also showed real resolve after falling 14 points behind in the third quarter, never losing its nerve despite Connecticut’s hot shooting from outside.
Try it for $0.99.
Leila Lacan keeps on rising
Even in defeat, there was a bright spot for the Connecticut Sun in Leila Lacan. The French guard produced the best WNBA performance of her career with 24 points. Aggressive from the start, she knocked down four three-pointers and was one of the main reasons the Sun controlled much of the game. Just weeks into her WNBA journey, the former UFAB 49 and Basket Landes player is settling in fast.
Aaliyah Edwards also finished with 24 points for Connecticut, who slipped to a fourth straight loss and now sit at 2 wins and 12 defeats.
With another explosive outing from Brittney Sykes and a Sykes-Mabrey partnership that keeps clicking, Toronto are making it clear week by week that the Tempo are no side story in this Commissioner’s Cup.
Discover the rest of the WNBA news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply