The Toronto Tempo visit the Washington Mystics on Friday night in an Eastern Conference matchup as part of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Toronto enters the game with a 7-5 record after edging the Connecticut Sun in overtime on Wednesday. Brittney Sykes powered the win with 38 points and four rebounds, while Laura Juskaite added 19 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Toronto will try to build on that momentum in a challenging road setting against a Washington team looking to rebound after a home loss to the Indiana Fever on Monday. The Mystics come into Friday’s contest at 4-6. In that defeat, Michaela Onyenwere led Washington with 17 points and two rebounds, and Shakira Austin contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Injuries could play a major role in the matchup. Toronto has three players on its injury report. Kiki Rice has been ruled out with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and will miss her third straight game. Nyara Sabally is questionable because of a right hamstring injury and could miss her first game since May 21. Temi Fagbenle is listed as probable and is expected to return after sitting out 11 games with a right shoulder sprain.
Washington has only one player on its injury report, but it is a significant one. Kiki Iriafen is questionable with a right ankle sprain suffered in Monday’s loss to Indiana and could miss her first game of the season.
Friday’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C., and will air on ION. Both teams will be looking for an important Commissioner’s Cup victory as they continue their early-season push.
