Sophie Cunningham played a major role in the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 win over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday. Cunningham finished with 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. She went 3-for-3 from deep, including a crucial 3-pointer in the final two minutes that helped Indiana hold off Toronto’s late push.
It was Cunningham’s first game in Toronto and the Fever’s first visit to Canada’s newest WNBA franchise. The matchup delivered an electric atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena, with the crowd bringing plenty of energy throughout the night. The result marked the Fever’s fifth straight win, improving them to 24-12 as they now sit third in the standings.
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After the game, Cunningham made sure to acknowledge the Tempo and their supporters, praising the environment surrounding women’s basketball in Toronto.
“I want to give Toronto their flowers. What a great environment for women’s basketball,” Cunningham said. “It’s a hell of a crowd. It’s a lot of fun to play in front of. Sandy Brondello is doing a great job. Marina [Mabrey], and now they have [Brittney] Sykes back. Like, I want to give them their flowers because they’re a hell of a squad.”
The Tempo are in their inaugural WNBA season, becoming the league’s first franchise outside the United States. Their arrival has also fueled the growth of women’s basketball in Canada, with the team playing games across the country and attracting major crowds. The franchise drew a WNBA regular-season record 20,996 fans for its July game against the Dallas Wings in Montreal.
Toronto’s inaugural season has served as an important building block for Sandy Brondello’s young team. The Tempo are on an 11-game losing streak and have fallen to 10-24 after Tuesday’s loss.
Indiana, meanwhile, continues to surge and will return to the United States for a marquee road game against Paige Bueckers and the Wings on Thursday.
