Brittney Sykes scored a career-best 38 points and led the Toronto Tempo to their first road win 106–96 against the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday night.
Toronto head coach Sandy Brondello spoke of the opportunity presented by a back-to-back to learn and improve, and the Tempo (2-2) did just that, maintaining a 10-point lead for most of the match.
This marks the first time in franchise history the Tempo have won away from home, and also scored more than 100 points.
Sykes set a personal best with 38 points, including going 15-for-15 at the free-throw line, and was also a real thorn in Los Angeles’ (1-3) side at the other end of the court with three steals and a block.
And with veteran Julie Allemand sidelined with a hip injury, 22-year-old rookie Kiki Rice demonstrated that, with her ability to lead the attack, keep her cool and make the right decisions, the 2026 NCAA champion can be a key component of the Tempo’s game.
Rice finished the match with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Marina Mabrey, on the other hand, did not seem to have settled in the City of Angels; she scored seven points on Friday during the 99-95 defeat to Los Angeles. She struggled again tonight, with six points, two assists and three personal fouls committed in the first half in just eight minutes.
Mabrey finished the game with 14 points, three rebounds and four assists.
Kelsey Plum led the Sparks in scoring with 28 points and added seven assists, while Dearica Hamby scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Kate Martin, who joined the Sparks this week on a player development contract after being waived by San Francisco, scored 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers, coming off the bench.
The Tempo led after the first quarter 27-21, shooting 100 per cent from the free-throw line and went five-for-six from three-point range.
With Toronto leading by 10 points for most of the second quarter, Hamilton, Ont., native Kia Nurse, with eight points including two three-pointers, led the team.
Rice made her mark on both ends of the court with a strong defensive effort, including three rebounds, as well as nine points scored, including going five-for-six from the free-throw line.
Sykes was the only player to score more than 10 points at half-time (14); she also put in a strong defensive performance, including two steals and a block after 20 minutes.
Rice ended the first half with a lay-up and drew a foul for the and-one. Toronto entered the second half leading 49-40.
Toronto later extended its lead to 71–54 with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter, having gone for 27-on-29 on free throws compared to L.A.’s 18-for-24.
Hamby had been quiet at the start of the second half but came back again, scoring two baskets in quick succession, including a three-pointer. Toronto’s María Conde responded immediately with her first three-pointer of the match.
The final quarter mirrored the rest of the match for Toronto, who allowed the Sparks to grab offensive rebounds to close the gap to six points with four minutes remaining.
Hamby missed a lay-up on the breakaway while unmarked in front of the basket, leaving the deficit at seven points with two minutes remaining, though Sykes and Rice made sure L.A. wouldn’t come back.
The Tempo will continue their road trip in Phoenix to face the Mercury on Tuesday.