Noemie Brochart and Shay Ciezki each contributed 15 points as the Phoenix Mercury triumphed over the Toronto Tempo with a commanding 101-69 victory on Saturday night. This win marked the second-largest margin of victory for Phoenix this season, following their impressive 99-66 season opener against the Las Vegas Aces.
Adding to the Mercury’s strong performance, Sami Whitcomb scored 14 points, while Marta Suarez and Maddy Westbeld, coming off the bench, added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Lexi Held also chipped in with 11 points, helping the Mercury (14-26) break their four-game losing streak.
Alyssa Thomas showcased her playmaking skills by dishing out 12 assists, marking her 11th game this season with 10 or more assists. On the Tempo side, Isabelle Harrison recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Kiki Rice contributed 14 points, and Laura Juskaite added 10 points. The Tempo (11-29) were looking to bounce back from a 93-73 defeat against Las Vegas the previous day.
Despite their efforts, the Tempo were without their top scorer Marina Mabrey, who averages 20.8 points per game, due to an ongoing adductor injury that has sidelined her for the past six games. Phoenix took control early in the game, establishing a 21-8 lead and maintaining their dominance throughout. By the end of the first quarter, the Mercury held a 27-17 advantage, which they extended to 58-35 by halftime. A strong third quarter performance further widened the gap, resulting in an 88-49 lead after three quarters.