Marina Mabrey has been the silver lining for a struggling Toronto Tempo team this season. Mabrey’s career-high numbers have produced some magical nights at the Coca-Cola Coliseum this season, like her 53-point outing against the Los Angeles Sparks. However, just on the cusp of the resumption of the WNBA season after the FIBA World Cup break, the Tempo management announced that she has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an injury.

“The Toronto Tempo announce Marina Mabrey is OUT for the remainder of the season, but will make a full recovery from her adductor injury,” TSN Sports reporter Chelsea Leite first shared on X on Wednesday.

The Tempo’s official release stated that Mabrey is expected to make a full recovery and won’t need surgery.

Her last game was on August 18 against the Indiana Fever. Shortly afterwards, the Tempo had their playoff hopes dashed after losing to the Washington Mystics. Mabrey’s absence followed back-to-back updates on the injury sheet. She was initially listed as doubtful against the Mystics on Aug. 19 and then ruled out with a right adductor issue, which has now proved season-ending.

With an 11-29 record and four games left, the Tempo’s first season in the WNBA has been a mixed bag. While individuals like Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes have given glimpses of what this team can deliver when at its best, persistent injury troubles have meant that this squad has often struggled to get the results in its favor.

Statistically, this has been Marina Mabrey’s best season so far. Although she has played for five different teams so far in the WNBA, Toronto is the place where she has blossomed into a lethal offensive weapon. In 32 games that she featured in this season, she averaged 20.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. She ranks fifth on the league’s scoring leaderboard, despite missing significant game time due to injuries.

Mabrey is not just putting up scoring numbers; she is doing so quite efficiently as well, displaying an FG% of 44.1 and a 3P% of 38.5%. This has helped the 30-year-old Guard have six 30-point performances this season, including the 53-point performance against the LA Sparks in June, when she tied the WNBA single-game record.

With just four games remaining in the regular season, fans were hoping to see Mabrey back in action. However, that will not be the case.

WNBA Fans Sad to See Marina Mabrey Sidelined Amid “Crazy” Season

It’s safe to say that Toronto fans, while knowing that their team is out of the playoffs, were still hoping to see Mabrey finish her record season on a high.

Under the injury update shared by @UnderdogWNBA on X, many fans expressed their disappointment.

“Not good; she had games where her shooting was crazy. Wish her a speedy recovery,” one fan wrote, referring to her signature performances this season.

In her 53-point game against the Sparks, Mabrey shot 17-of-28 from the floor and tied the league’s single-game record with nine made three-pointers, cementing her place in WNBA history alongside A’ja Wilson (2023) and Liz Cambage (2018).

“Damnnn, she was having a crazy season too,” another fan wrote.

“The tempo can’t catch a break 😭,” wrote another, referring to the persistent injuries that Mabrey and other Tempo players have suffered this season.

Brittney Sykes was shut down for the remainder of the season in late August after suffering a left foot injury against the Portland Fire. Aneesah Morrow was also ruled out after that game with a left knee injury.

Rookie Kiki Rice missed eight weeks due to a severe ankle injury. Forwards Isabelle Harrison and Nyara Sabally have both missed time: Harrison with a hand injury and later, a foot issue, while Sabally with neck and rib injuries. A Grade 2 right shoulder AC joint sprain kept center Temi Fagbenle out for the opening 10 games of the season, and she later sat out seven more games due to a concussion and an eye injury.

“Smh, who’s 3s am I supposed to bet on now?” one fan said online, seemingly because Mabrey is tied for the most three-pointers made in the league per game with Rhyne Howard, at 3.3.

Meanwhile, a few fans also pinpointed that the Tempo might be sitting Mabrey, because there are only four games left, and it wouldn’t make sense to expose her to potential injuries, especially since they can’t make it to the playoffs.

“Iykyk she ain’t injured they just shutting her down bc they not making the playoffs no point in risking an injury,” wrote one fan.

“Ya know she wouldn’t be back for 4-ish games lmfao,” added another.

While this season may not have yielded the desired results for Tempo, which is quite normal for expansion teams, the franchise’s future core is solid. With Mabrey, Sykes, Kiki Rice, and Aneesah Morrow, head coach Sandy Brondello can build a team that will be in playoff contention for years to come.

The Tempo take on the Indiana Fever in their next game on Friday, September 18.