NORTHERN LIGHTS-OUT: Tempo Make History from the Stripe, Blitz Storm in Toronto!
NORTHERN LIGHTS-OUT: Tempo Make History from the Stripe, Blitz Storm in Toronto!
TORONTO — If you’re going to beat a team, you might as well write your name in the history books while doing it.
The Toronto Tempo didn't just beat the Seattle Storm 93-72 on Saturday night; they absolutely neutralized them with a masterclass in execution, a lethal third-quarter blitz, and a historic night at the free-throw line.
The Freebie Flawlessness
Let's start with the absolute clinic Toronto put on from the charity stripe. The Tempo set a brand-new WNBA record by sinking their first 31 consecutive free throws of the game.
The flawless streak was finally broken when Teonni Key missed a pair with just 58 seconds left on the clock, leaving Toronto at a still-absurd 31-of-33 (94%) for the night. When you aren't leaving free points on the board, you become a nightmare to try and claw back against.
The Anatomy of a Blitz
For a minute there, it looked like we were in for a classic baseline-to-baseline battle. With 3:50 remaining in the third quarter, Seattle's Katie Lou Samuelson hit a slick turn-around jumper to lock the game up at 51-all.
And then? The Storm completely lost the script.
Seattle coughed up the rock on their next three straight possessions, and the Tempo did what great teams do—they smelled blood in the water. Toronto exploded for a vicious 19-5 run over the next three minutes, effectively turning a dogfight into a blowout before the fourth quarter even started.
Balance, Revenge, and Rookie Magic
Marina Mabrey set the tone for the Tempo (5-4) with a team-high 18 points, but the headline story was the sheer depth of this Toronto attack:
The Rookie Surge: Kiki Rice was a problem in the second half, scoring 13 of her 17 points after the break while adding a season-high 4 steals to anchor the perimeter defense.
The Revenge Game: Brittney Sykes, who wore a Storm uniform last season, clearly had this one circled on her calendar. She cooked her former squad for 15 points.
The New Blood: Rookie Laura Juskaite went completely unconscious from deep, dropping 14 points with a career-high four 3-pointers, while fellow rookie Maria Conde chipped in 13 for her second straight double-digit performance.
Storm Warning: Live by the 3, Die by the 3
For Seattle (3-5), the math this season is brutal but simple: if the shots don't fall from deep, they don't win.
The Storm hit a miserable 7-of-27 (26%) from beyond the arc on Saturday. Want a wild stat? Seattle is a perfect 3-0 this season when shooting 38% or better from downtown. When they hit 37% or worse? An ugly 0-6. Add in the fact that they only got to the line eight times all night, and it's easy to see why they couldn't keep pace.
Natisha Hiedeman did everything she could with 18 points, and Jordan Horston added a season-high 15 off the pine, but missing Dominique Malonga (still sidelined in concussion protocol) left them entirely short on answers once Toronto turned up the pressure.
What's Next
With this win, Toronto officially secures the season sweep over Seattle, having also beaten them back on May 13th for the first win in franchise history.
Seattle Storm: No time to lick their wounds; they head to Dallas on Monday desperately needing to find their perimeter stroke.
Toronto Tempo: The history-makers pack their bags for a heavyweight road test against New York on Wednesday.
