Mercury Overwhelm Short-Handed Tempo in 101-69 Rout

The Phoenix Mercury cruised past the Toronto Tempo 101-69 on Saturday, building a lead that ballooned into a 32-point final margin. Toronto played the game without three regulars, and Phoenix controlled the contest from start to finish.

The decisive moment

Phoenix never allowed Toronto to settle into a rhythm, seizing control early and stretching the margin steadily as the game progressed. By the time the final horn sounded, the Mercury's lead had swelled to 32 points, turning what began as a regular-season matchup into a one-sided affair.

By the numbers

Final score: Phoenix 101, Toronto 69
Margin of victory: 32 points
Toronto missing Natisha Hiedeman (shoulder), Awa Fam (contract suspension), and Nyara Sabally (calf)

A 32-point differential is about as lopsided as results get in the WNBA, and Phoenix's offense found consistent success against a Tempo roster that was already thin on available bodies.

What it means

For Phoenix, the win is a statement of depth and execution during the heart of the 2026 WNBA Regular Season, the kind of performance that builds momentum heading into the stretch run. For Toronto, the loss underscores how difficult it is to compete with three regulars sidelined, including Hiedeman and Sabally to injury and Fam amid a suspended contract situation.

The absences left the Tempo without key rotation pieces, and the scoreboard reflected the gap in available talent on both ends of the floor. Phoenix capitalized on every opening, turning a shorthanded opponent into a lopsided result.

What to watch next

Toronto will look to the injury report for updates on Hiedeman and Sabally as the Tempo try to stabilize their rotation, while Phoenix will aim to carry Saturday's form into its next matchup as the 2026 WNBA Regular Season continues.