By Mark Ricci
July 1, 2026
Marina Mabrey wrote her name into WNBA history by tying the league’s single-game scoring record with a 53-point explosion for the Toronto Tempo, delivering one of the greatest shooting performances the league has ever seen.
The 53-point game
On June 25, 2026, Mabrey scored 53 points in the Tempo’s 125–97 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, matching the WNBA single-game scoring record. She tied the mark previously set by Liz Cambage (Dallas vs. New York, July 17, 2018) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas vs. Atlanta, August 22, 2023).
Mabrey’s stat line was extraordinary:
- 53 points on 17-of-28 shooting from the field
- 9-of-18 from three-point range
- 10-of-12 from the free-throw line
- 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes
Her 9 made threes tied the WNBA single-game record for three-pointers, a mark she had already reached once earlier in the same week. CBS Sports and the AP both note that she tied both the all-time scoring record (53 points) and the all-time mark for threes in a game (9), making the performance historic on multiple levels.
How the game unfolded
Mabrey caught fire early and never really cooled off. Highlights and game recaps describe a night where “Marina couldn’t miss,” with shot after shot—pull-ups, catch-and-shoot threes, and drives—dropping from all over the floor. With just under three minutes remaining, she hit a three off a pass from Julie Allemand (who had a career-high 14 assists) to reach 53 points and tie the record.
She checked out to a standing ovation with just over a minute left, having shattered Toronto’s previous single-game franchise record of 38 points, which had been set twice by Brittney Sykes. According to ESPN, Mabrey said she did not realize how close she was to the record until her sister, Michaela, sitting courtside, told her she was three points away.
Where it stands in WNBA history
Mabrey’s outburst sits atop the WNBA record book alongside Wilson and Cambage. CBS Sports lists her 53-point game as one of the highest-scoring performances in league history, part of a short list that includes:
- Marina Mabrey – 53 points (2026)
- A’ja Wilson – 53 points (2023)
- Liz Cambage – 53 points (2018)
- Riquna Williams – 51 points (2013)
- Maya Moore – 48 points (2014), among others.
Her nine threes also tied the league’s single-game record for made three-pointers, reinforcing her nickname “Money Mabrey” and her reputation as one of the WNBA’s premier long-range shooters.
Mabrey’s role and recent surge
Mabrey’s 53-point night capped an extraordinary scoring run. ESPN and ABC News report that she scored 113 points over a three-game stretch, the most points in any three-game span in WNBA history, while hitting 21 three-pointers during that stretch. At the time, she was averaging a career-high 21.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 45.9% shooting overall and 40.3% from three, ranking fourth in the league in scoring and first in total three-pointers made.
Her performance also underscored her identity with the expansion of Toronto Tempo. Mabrey joined the Tempo in 2026 as the face of the new franchise and, in her first season there, tied league single-game records in both points (53) and three-pointers (9). The 29-year-old guard, drafted in 2019 and described by the AP as a “feisty and competitive” journeywoman on her fifth WNBA team, has turned that journey into a starring role in Toronto.
Why the night matters
Factually, Mabrey’s 53-point game did three things at once:
- Tied the WNBA all-time single-game scoring record (53 points).
- Tied the WNBA single-game record for made threes (9).
- Set a new season high for points in a WNBA game in 2026.
Beyond the numbers, it confirmed her status as one of the league’s most dangerous shooters and cemented her as a defining figure of the Tempo’s early history. In a league that has seen some legendary scoring nights, Marina Mabrey’s 53-point performance now stands right at the top of the list.
Mark Ricci is an NBA and WNBA columnist for Sportsmedia News. His coverage spans professional basketball at the highest levels, from trade-deadline analysis and free-agent breakdowns to record-setting performances and championship runs.