What Marina Mabrey did in Toronto’s 125-87 win against the Los Angeles Sparks was something Sandy Brondello had never seen in her 25 years with the WNBA. Mabrey went 17-for-28 from the field and drilled nine threes, tying the WNBA single-game points record. However, The Athletic’s Annie Costabile believes teammates’ misfortune played a role in helping her reach that milestone. 

“Another note is that Brittney Sykes is out with an injury right now, so there’s an added opportunity for her here.” Costabile said on the ‘No Offseason’ podcast. “To say the least, I’m not surprised at all. Very expected, and I think ‘capable’ is the word to use when describing Marina Mabrey and her ability to score like this.”

Brittney Sykes’ knee buckled against the Indiana Fever three games back and was ruled out for a lengthy period with a plantar fascia injury. At that point, Sykes was leading the team with 20.1 points per game and was arguably the No. 1 option for Brondello in this lineup.

Her usage rate was second on the team with 27.7%, while Mabrey was at the top with 28.4%. But after Sykes’ absence, her usage rate has jumped to 37.1% in the last three games. Against the Sparks, it was up to a whopping 43.9%.

Other than Sykes, Kiki Rice, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, has been dealing with a Grade 3 ankle sprain since early June. With two of their three key guards out, the offensive load fell on Mabrey, and she stepped up. She is now averaging a career-high 21.1 points, which is the fourth-highest in the league. 

Until Sykes and Rice return, this would be the formula for Tempo. Mabrey is on a hot streak and has shown to lead this Toronto offense. She is leading the league in average gravity with 12.4 and perimeter on-ball gravity as well with 9.4. Mabrey has always shown flashes of her brilliance, but at Tempo, she may have found the perfect role. 

Marina Mabrey Could Finally Achieve Her Ceiling At Toronto After Chaotic Career Start

Drafted in 2019, Mabrey has never been an All-Star in her seven seasons. The question was not about talent. Mabrey had shown plenty of it. She was averaging 15 points in a broken Chicago team and shooting lights out at the Dallas Wings. Her role clarity seems to have been a hurdle.

“She was with Dallas, then she goes to Chicago, and there’s a whole lot of upheaval there. She’s brought in by James Wade, who sees this in her. He sees her as the piece who’s going to be the bridge between the championship era and what they’re trying to build for the future,” Costabile said.

“Teresa Weatherspoon comes in. She requests a trade. She goes to Connecticut. She’s just had so much up, down, and all over the place systematically that now, in Toronto, she can be an anchor in a way that maybe she hasn’t been allowed to before.”

Toronto is 9-9 despite two key players sidelined by injury. And the primary reason is Marina Mabrey. When asked about her all-star status, Mabrey thinks she should be on the ballot.

“I do, I think I have earned that honor,” Mabrey told ESPNW. “Like I said, it’s something out of your control. You hope to be that because you know because the little girl in you always wanted to be something like that. But it’s so much more about the validation. I think this season I have really given myself a chance to shine.”

Regardless of the All-Star status, Mabrey has stood out among the top stars. This 53-point game was just one sign of her season-wide achievements. If she manages to take this Tempo side to a postseason run, Mabrey would be so much more than just an All-Star.