Story summary
On Friday night, Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points to set a new WNBA single-season scoring record of 1,034 points, surpassing A’ja Wilson’s previous mark of 1,021 points. This helped the Indiana Fever defeat the Toronto Tempo by a score of 103-85 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. Mitchell also extended her streak of scoring at least 20 points to 25 consecutive games, another WNBA record.
Caitlin Clark contributed significantly with 28 points and a season-high 14 assists for her 14th double-double of the year. The Fever improved their record to 27-14, winning their third straight game and eighth in ten outings. Meanwhile, the Tempo fell to 11-30 after losing five consecutive games.
Despite strong performances by rookie Kiki Rice with 18 points and Laura Juskaite leading Toronto with 22 points, the home team’s poor free-throw shooting (19 for 30) hindered their chances. The Fever maintained a steady lead throughout most quarters but saw a brief surge from Tempo early in the third quarter before regaining control.
Both Mitchell and Clark were part of the US team that recently won the FIBA World Cup, adding to their impressive season performances with the Fever.
Written for “WNBA Fever vs Tempo” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
A day before Caitlin Clark made her final Toronto appearance of the season with the Indiana Fever, a months-long secret was out in Ottawa.
asserted
secret → make → Ottawa
The parents of soon-to-be nine-year-old Tenley Schefski informed the child they would be making the four-hour-plus drive to watch her favourite player up close for her birthday.
asserted
they → inform → birthday
“I was like, I can’t believe what just happened,” said Tenley, who turns nine on Sunday.
asserted
who → believe → Sunday
“I was so excited, and I can’t believe we’re here right now.
asserted
we → believe → ?
Fans dangled over the railings by the Fever’s tunnel entrance inside Coca-Cola Coliseum on Friday night shouting Clark’s name and clamouring for autographs.
asserted
Fans → dangle → autographs
Canadian WNBA fans young and old made the trek and spent whatever it took to witness a player many credit with transforming women’s basketball.
asserted
many → make → basketball
10th game this season with 25+ PTS and 10+ AST for Caitlin Clark, more than any other player in WNBA history has in their career 😤
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 19, 2026
she finished with 28 PTS, 14 AST & 6 REB tonight against Toronto.
asserted
she → have → Toronto
In the end, the Fever defeated the Tempo 103-85.
asserted
Fever → defeat → Tempo
Kelsey Mitchell dropped a game-high 33 points to break the WNBA’s single-season scoring record (now with 1,034, passing A’ja Wilson’s 2024 high of 1,021) while Clark finished with 28 points on 7-for-11 shooting with six rebounds and 14 assists.
asserted
Clark → drop → rebounds
“I’ve really enjoyed both these games here,” said Clark, who scored 24 points when the teams met at Scotiabank Arena in August.
asserted
teams → enjoy → August
“It’s been a lot of fun for me to know how passionate they are, so I’ll be looking forward to coming back next year.”
asserted
I → know → fun
It was tough for Eric and Alissa Schefski to keep the secret from daughter Tenley, who had pestered them during the season after some friends went to WNBA games.
asserted
friends → keep → games
“One day, could we go to a Tempo game?” she asked.
uncertain
she → go → game
The Schefskis kept things tight-lipped.
asserted
Schefskis → keep → things
In March, they secured tickets for two games around her birthday, after the FIBA World Cup break.
asserted
they → secure → break
As it turned out, the Tempo were playing Clark’s Fever and another family favourite: Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty on Sunday.
asserted
Tempo → turn → Sunday
Tenley plays under-10 basketball in Ottawa and has plans for her own YouTube channel some day, featuring basketball trick shots at the family home.
asserted
Tenley → play → home
Inspired by Clark’s work ethic, she also dreams of one day playing for Canada’s WNBA team.
asserted
she → inspire → team
“There was nothing like this when we were growing up, so it’s very cool to have a daughter that has people she can look up to,” said mom Alissa.
asserted
Alissa → be → people
“She can see herself doing this one day.”
asserted
herself → see → this
The Toronto crowd was divided.
asserted
crowd → divide → ?
Some wore half-Tempo, half-Fever gear, including 16-year-old Annalise Verbruggen, who awaited Clark’s arrival with a slew of trading cards.
asserted
who → wear → cards
Verbruggen’s family has Tempo season tickets, but she sported Clark’s jersey on the night.
asserted
she → have → night
“This is a one-day thing,” joked Verbruggen.
asserted
Verbruggen → joke → ?
“I was a Caitlin Clark fan before the Tempo was even announced at all.
asserted
Tempo → announce → ?
Trust me, I have my fair share of Tempo merch.”
asserted
I → trust → merch
Caitlin Clark said this might be the first time she’s played in an arena with birds chirping:
uncertain
birds → say → arena
— Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) September 19, 2026
“Hopefully we could play at Scotiabank the rest of the way…
uncertain
we → play → way
I’ve enjoyed both these games here, it’s been a lot of fun for me.
asserted
it → enjoy → me
I can tell how passionate (the fans) are.”
asserted
fans → tell → ?
Gus Green and Lorelei Atkinson said they had been waiting a long time to watch Clark in person.
asserted
they → say → person
They refuse to travel south of the border because of tensions between Canada and the United States, but eagerly jumped on a flight here from their hometown of Argyle, N.S.
They paid about $600 each for resale tickets, but said it was worth it.
asserted
it → refuse → tickets
“I might get trouble saying it in this building, but I’m not sure Toronto would have a team if it weren’t for all the eyes that Caitlin brought to this league,” said Green.
uncertain
Green → get → league
“She’s just exploded women’s basketball, and it’s just so nice to see a positive role model out there playing sports.”
asserted
it → explode → sports
Clark is in the running for WNBA MVP and entered Friday’s game with season averages of 22.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists.
asserted
Clark → enter → points
Her signature shoe is also expected to launch in October.
asserted
shoe → expect → October
“She’s completely different than any other player we’ve ever watched,” said Green.
asserted
Green → ’ → player
“It’s not just her skill, it’s just everything she brings to the game.
asserted
she → ’ → game
It’s the humility.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s just a joy to watch.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
The Aporia
