The Toronto Tempo return home after a road victory on Wednesday night to host the Seattle Storm on Saturday afternoon at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. Seattle begins a two-game road trip after splitting a four-game homestand, while Toronto looks to build momentum after a high-scoring win over the Chicago Sky.
Toronto earned a 111-104 victory on Wednesday behind a late 8-2 run that helped the expansion team hold off Chicago’s comeback attempt. Nyara Sabally delivered a career-best performance with 29 points, while Marina Mabrey added 24 points and seven assists. Brittney Sykes contributed 20 points, and Kiki Rice filled the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Seattle enters the matchup coming off a difficult 78-64 loss to the Washington Mystics. The Storm shot just 34.9% from the field and struggled to generate offense throughout the night. Jade Melbourne led Seattle with 15 points, while reserve Mackenzie Holmes grabbed 10 rebounds in 20 minutes. The Storm were also dealing with multiple absences, including Dominique Malonga, who missed her fifth straight game in concussion protocol. Taylor Thierry, Taina Mair and Ezi Magbegor also sat out.
Toronto has been driven offensively by Sykes, who averages 20.5 points and 4.4 assists per game. Mabrey is adding 18.0 points per contest, while Sabally is averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. The Tempo’s balanced attack has helped them remain competitive as they continue their first WNBA season.
For Seattle, Malonga has been a key contributor when available, averaging 16.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Natisha Hiedeman is providing 13.0 points per outing, and Melbourne has supplied 10.9 points and 4.3 assists per game. The Storm will need improved scoring efficiency and better health if they hope to bounce back on the road.
The game offers an interesting matchup between an emerging Toronto team and a Seattle squad trying to stabilize after an uneven stretch. With Toronto playing at home and coming off an energetic offensive showing, the Tempo will look to keep their momentum going. Seattle, meanwhile, will aim to regroup quickly and find more production from its available players.
Fans can watch the game on KOMO-TV in Seattle, with live streaming available through Fubo.
