Short-handed Tempo can’t keep up with Fever duo Mitchell, Clark in yet another loss

TORONTO — The short-handed Toronto Tempo gave it the old college try, but the sharp-shooting guard Indiana Fever tandem of Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark proved too much for the WNBA expansion team on Friday.

Mitchell scored a game-high 33 points and set a single-season WNBA scoring record with three games remaining. Clark added 28 points and 14 assists for her 14th double-double of the season in the 103-85 win before 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Mitchell finished the outing with 1,034 points for the season, passing A’ja Wilson’s record-setting 1,021 in 2024.

“I was happy with how we defended earlier and how we protected the paint,” Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello said. “I just thought we were slow in rotations, particularly Kelsey.

“She’s an amazing player, and this is the best season I’ve ever seen, and we probably shouldn’t have been overhelping off the best shooter out there. But we did.”

The Tempo and Fever returned to action after a three-week layoff because of the FIBA World Cup in Berlin, Germany, won by Clark and the United States.

The Tempo employed the break with some fruitful practices and team bonding. Brondello urged her players to up their work ethic because Toronto likely will be without its top offensive players Brittney Sykes (left foot) and Marina Mabrey (right adductor) for the remainder of the season.

“We were pretty close there until the 35-minute mark,” Brondello said. “Obviously, you have some pretty special guards on that team, and they were hard for us (to guard) tonight.

“But I thought we competed, and we were right there.”

The Tempo briefly held the lead in the third quarter and were behind 83-78 with 8:22 remaining, until the Fever finished the deed.

In the absence of Mabrey and Sykes, Laura Jurskaite stepped up to contribute 22 points, while 22-year-old Kiki Rice, the Tempo’s first-round pick (sixth overall), added 18.

“I think for all of us, it’s just nice to be back out there, especially for those of us who didn’t play over the break,” Rice said.

It was the Tempo’s first game at Coca-Cola Coliseum since July 20. Not everyone liked the atmosphere in the building that has birds flying around.

“I think this is the first time I’ve played in an arena that has birds chirping,” Clark said, taking a swipe at the old building. “Congrats to Toronto on that. Hopefully we get to play at Scotiabank (Arena) the rest of the way.”

But Clark’s sarcasm could not overshadow the performance from Mitchell.

“Just very proud of her,” Indiana coach Stephanie White said. “She wants to play.

“She’s playing at another level, and it’s been really incredible to witness. I hope that we don’t take it for granted that what we’re witnessing is some unprecedented stuff.”

The Fever (27-14) won their third straight and eighth in 10 outings, while Toronto (11-30) has lost five in a row and 17 of 18. The Tempo will play its final home game on Sunday against the New York Liberty.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press