Liberty Pull Away From Tempo in Toronto Home Finale
The New York Liberty defeated the Toronto Tempo 106–69 on Sunday, September 20, spoiling Toronto’s final home game of its inaugural WNBA season before a sellout crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Game Summary
Toronto stayed competitive early, but New York gradually took control and dominated the second half.
The Liberty led by eight points at halftime before exploding for a 33–20 third quarter. New York then outscored Toronto 28–12 in the fourth, turning the game into a rout.
The Liberty’s overall second-half advantage was 61–32.
Toronto Standouts
Laura Juskaite produced the best offensive performance of her young Tempo career, scoring a career-high 28 points while adding three steals. She became the only Toronto player to appear in all 42 games of the season.
Kiki Rice also had a strong night, finishing with 19 points after scoring 17 before halftime.
Liberty Leaders
Breanna Stewart was the difference-maker for New York, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
She scored 16 points during New York’s decisive third-quarter surge.
Sabrina Ionescu contributed six points, nine assists and two steals, helping the Liberty repeatedly find open shooters and cutters. Jonquel Jones added 11 points.
Turning Point
The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Stewart repeatedly attacked the basket and scored 12 consecutive points, helping New York expand its advantage.
The Liberty’s ball movement and transition offense then overwhelmed Toronto as the quarter progressed.
Historic Home Finale
Despite the lopsided result, Toronto fans remained behind the Tempo through the final buzzer. The crowd received a video tribute celebrating the franchise’s inaugural season, followed by a standing ovation.
Veteran Brittney Sykes addressed the crowd afterward and thanked the fans for their support throughout the first season.
Toronto finished its inaugural home schedule with strong attendance, averaging 10,828 fans and drawing sellout crowds at Coca-Cola Coliseum and large crowds at special venues across Canada.
What’s Next
The Tempo fall to 11–31 and have two road games remaining. Toronto visits the Chicago Sky on September 22 before finishing the regular season against the Connecticut Sun on September 24.
