--- title: "Mabrey ties WNBA 3-point record, lifts Tempo past Sun in epic rally" description: "Marina Mabrey’s 37-point explosion—including nine threes to tie the WNBA mark—fuels Toronto’s first signature win, a 101-97 comeback over Connecticut." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/mabrey-scores-career-high-37-points-ties-single-game-3-poin-dd9de651 published: 2026-07-01T16:38:15.696+00:00 updated: 2026-07-01T16:38:15.696+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["basketball"] --- # Mabrey ties WNBA 3-point record, lifts Tempo past Sun in epic rally > Marina Mabrey’s 37-point explosion—including nine threes to tie the WNBA mark—fuels Toronto’s first signature win, a 101-97 comeback over Connecticut. Marina Mabrey torched the Connecticut Sun for a career-high 37 points and tied the WNBA single-game record with nine three-pointers, powering the expansion Toronto Tempo to a 101-97 comeback victory. The Tempo erased a 16-point deficit in the second half, with Mabrey’s off-the-dribble shooting and late defensive stops sealing the franchise’s most defining win. Connecticut controlled the game for three quarters, leading by double digits midway through the third before Mabrey ignited a 24-6 run to flip the script. Her back-to-back threes in the final 90 seconds put Toronto ahead for good, capping a night where she shot 12-of-20 from the field and 9-of-15 from three. The Sun, despite 28 points from Jonquel Jones, couldn’t contain the Tempo’s firepower or the momentum shift. The win is Toronto’s first against a playoff-caliber opponent this season and a statement to the league. The Tempo improved to 11-12, while Connecticut dropped to 18-7, snapping a six-game winning streak. Mabrey’s record-tying barrage—amidst a career year averaging 21.3 points—cements her as the face of the franchise and a legitimate All-Star threat. Toronto’s offensive explosion marked the highest-scoring game in WNBA history between two teams with winning records, underscoring the league’s evolving offensive ceiling. This wasn’t just a marquee performance; it was a blueprint for how expansion teams can leverage elite individual talent to disrupt established hierarchies. The Tempo’s defense, which held Connecticut to 34% shooting in the fourth quarter, exposed the Sun’s reliance on isolation sets and Jones’s mid-range game. Toronto’s bench, led by rookie guard Aaliyah Edwards with 14 points, provided the depth needed to weather early deficits and sustain late rallies. The Tempo’s victory also highlighted the league’s shifting defensive paradigms. Connecticut entered the game ranked top-five in defensive efficiency, but Toronto’s ball movement and spacing forced the Sun into contested mid-range shots and turnovers. The Tempo forced 14 turnovers, including six in the fourth quarter, while holding Jones to just 3-of-11 shooting from the paint. This tactical shift—prioritizing perimeter pressure over traditional post defense—mirrors trends seen in the NBA, where switching defenses and aggressive closeouts are reshaping how elite offenses are contained. Mabrey’s performance underscores a broader trend in the WNBA: the rise of the “super scorer” who can single-handedly dictate games. Her nine threes tied the record, but her efficiency—45% from three on high volume—reflects a league where guards are increasingly prioritizing volume shooting over mid-range reliance. The Tempo’s offensive system, built around Mabrey’s gravity, allowed role players like Edwards and forward Laeticia Amihere to thrive in catch-and-shoot scenarios, a model that could become a template for other expansion teams. “It’s about trust,” Mabrey said postgame. “We believed in each other when it mattered most. This is what we’ve been building toward.” What’s next: The Tempo host the Dallas Wings Friday in a primetime matchup, while the Sun travel to Seattle to face the Storm Saturday. Toronto’s surge under Mabrey’s leadership shifts expectations for an expansion team that’s quickly outgrowing its underdog label. ## Why this matters Mabrey’s record-tying performance validates Toronto’s expansion-year ambitions and proves the Tempo can compete with the league’s elite. A first-year franchise beating a perennial contender like Connecticut signals a power shift in the East, where Toronto is no longer a novelty but a team with championship-level firepower. The game also exposed the Sun’s defensive vulnerabilities, raising questions about their title aspirations despite Jones’s elite production. For the Tempo, Mabrey’s outburst isn’t just a career night—it’s proof that expansion teams can leverage singular talent to redefine competitive balance in the WNBA. The league’s offensive evolution, accelerated by players like Mabrey, is forcing defenses to adapt or be left behind, a trend that could redefine playoff basketball in 2025. ## Frequently asked ### How many three-pointers did Marina Mabrey make to tie the WNBA record? Mabrey hit nine three-pointers, matching the WNBA single-game record set by Kristi Toliver in 2016. ### What was the Tempo’s largest deficit in the comeback win over Connecticut? Toronto trailed by 16 points in the third quarter before rallying to win 101-97. ### How many points did Jonquel Jones score for Connecticut in the loss? Jones led the Sun with 28 points, but Toronto’s late defense and Mabrey’s shooting proved too much. ### What’s Marina Mabrey’s career-high in points before this game? Mabrey’s previous career high was 32 points, set earlier this season against Indiana. ### How does this win impact the Tempo’s playoff chances? The victory, Toronto’s first over a playoff team, moves them to 11-12 and keeps their postseason hopes alive. ### Which rookie contributed key minutes off the Toronto bench? Aaliyah Edwards, the Tempo’s first-round pick, logged 22 minutes and scored 14 points in the win. ## Sources & Citations - [Mabrey scores career-high 37 points, ties single-game 3-point record as Tempo rally past Sun 101-97](http://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401857003) — ESPN (2026-06-20) --- Cite: Mabrey ties WNBA 3-point record, lifts Tempo past Sun in epic rally. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/mabrey-scores-career-high-37-points-ties-single-game-3-poin-dd9de651