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The Vikings Have 5 Red Flags in 2026

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Jordan Mason scores a touchdown against the Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings running back Jordan Mason fights through contact near the goal line at U.S. Bank Stadium as Minnesota finishes a touchdown against Philadelphia in a home matchup. On Oct. 19, 2025, Mason powered into the end zone against the Eagles, giving the Vikings a physical scoring moment from the team’s official game footage. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

The NFL regular season is now less than nine weeks away, and when the Minnesota Vikings get there, they’re supposed to finish 8-9 or 9-8, according to sportsbooks. It’s the same forecast that followed the franchise in the summer of 2024 before Minnesota chipped off 14 wins. With such a mediocre projection, the club must have some red flags, right?

Indeed, and we are here to lift up the main ones. The red flags are ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = biggest red flag).

Vikings’ Biggest Concern Still Starts at QB

Aaron Jones celebrates a touchdown with Justin Jefferson against the Cardinals. Vikings red flags 2026
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones celebrates with Justin Jefferson at U.S. Bank Stadium after scoring in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. On Dec. 1, 2024, Jones marked the touchdown beside Minnesota’s star wide receiver as the Vikings pushed through another late-game sequence in front of their home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Bonus: No Game-Changing RB

VikingsTerritory mentions the rushing offense — and has done so for four years — so much that it always feels like the sun rising.

Minnesota ranked 19th in 2025 per rushing playcall percentage. The best teams — ones that win Super Bowls — run the football at a more balanced clip. Then, every summer, the Vikings coaches outwardly profess that they’re going to run the rock more and only effectuate that mission a teensy bit.

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The underlying problem? The team doesn’t have a young, game-changing running back. That was Dalvin Cook nine years ago, and he’s long gone. Rookie Demond Claiborne could fill this role, but 6th-Round tailbacks usually end up as RB3s or out of the league.

Minnesota’s main running backs are Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. The duo is not overly dynamic.

5. iOL Depth

These are the Vikings’ interior offensive line starters:
Donovan Jackson (LG), Blake Brandel (C), and Will Fries (RG).

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These are the Vikings’ interior offensive line main backups:
Joe Huber (LG), Michael Jurgens (C), and Henry Byrd (RG).

Minnesota is one iOL injury away from serious heartburn.

4. Win-Now Head Coach v. Brand New GM

Most coaches don’t enter Year No. 5 with franchises sans a playoff win. But Kevin O’Connell will.

The Vikings are in the middle of their third-longest playoff win drought in franchise history, and while no one is vociferously screaming about O’Connell on the hot seat, doesn’t he have to, you know, win a postseason game sooner rather than later?

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Meanwhile, Minnesota fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January and hired new general manager Nolan Teasley about five weeks ago. Teasley probably doesn’t think, “Oh, dear God, this team must win now.” He’s likely — hopefully — preparing the franchise for the long term.

If O’Connell needs a player via trade before the deadline in November, for example, will Teasley be willing to pull the trigger on a draft pick? There’s some self-imposed friction here — a head coach who must win versus a general manager who just walked through security.

3. Ruthless NFC Competition

As recently as three years ago, the NFC North always had a team to beat up. They just did. It was usually the Detroit Lions, sometimes intermixed with a mediocre-to-poor Chicago Bears team. The Vikings have also been mediocre every other year since 2012.

Dallas Turner sacks Jordan Love during a Vikings-Packers game at Lambeau Field. Vikings red flags 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is brought down by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner at Lambeau Field during a division matchup in Green Bay. On Nov. 23, 2025, Turner finished the sack in the first half, giving Brian Flores’ defense a key pressure moment against Love and the Packers’ offense. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images.

The days of one pushover team in the NFC North are gone. Oddsmakers project every team to win at least eight games. Every NFC North matchup features, at least, a Wildcard playoff level of difficulty.

Even if Minnesota is good, 10-7 or so may be the ceiling inside a vicious division.

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2. OLB Depth

The Eagles acquired Jonathan Greenard via trade in April, and the Vikings went from showcasing the OLB room as its deepest unit to a roster question mark. Instead of Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner — “too much of a good thing” — it’s Van Ginkel, Turner, and possibly Bo Richter, Jake Golday, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. There is genuine uncertainty at OLB3, something Vikings fans have not experienced in years.

Of course, this problem is easily fixable: Teasley could sign Von Miller, Jadeveon Clowney, or Leonard Floyd after breakfast today. He has $13 million in cap space.

But until he does that, Vikings football is one injury away from displaying Dallas Turner and Bo Richter as the main OLBs on the field on any given Sunday.

1. QB Uncertainty

It is terrific to have quarterback depth like Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Sure. If one quarterback gets hurt, Minnesota has options, unlike 2023 and 2025 when it had to scramble and hope for the best.

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Kyler Murray throws a pass during Vikings minicamp in Eagan. Vikings red flags 2026
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray throws during minicamp at TCO Performance Center in Eagan as he works through summer reps inside Kevin O’Connell’s offense. In June 2026, the veteran passer continued learning the system after signing in March, preparing for a high-profile quarterback competition within Minnesota’s reshaped QB room before training camp arrived. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Here’s the one problem with having no declared QB1 by July: no other NFC North team is in that position. The Bears have Caleb Williams. The Lions had Jared Goff. The Packers have Jordan Love. Minnesota is the only NFC North squad with a huge quarterback mystery.

Generally speaking, it’s better to be in the other boat.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

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Oscar De La Hoya names the fight he’s working on that ‘everyone wants to see’: “I’ll make it happen”

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With a host of major fights in the works, Golden Boy Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has revealed his intention to bolster the boxing schedule and get one blockbuster event over the line, seeking to deliver the fight that ‘everybody wants to see’.

A number of showdowns are being touted at present, with the long-awaited meeting between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua set for the end of the year, whilst Manny Pacquiao is also set to embark on a mission to break his own record as boxing’s oldest ever welterweight world champion.

One other fight that has been in the pipeline throughout 2026 is Ryan Garcia’s mandatory defence of the WBC welterweight crown against Britain’s Conor Benn, with an announcement for the event being teased ever since Benn’s April win over Regis Prograis.

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Yet, De La Hoya, promoter of Garcia, had maintained that he had not been approached for the proposed bout, lowering expectations of a reported September 12 fight date in Las Vegas, which had been announced by Garcia. 

Now, in a surprise twist, De La Hoya has taken to Instagram to confirm that he is now actively working on the fight, vowing that he will make it happen despite previously believing that there was a lack of interest in the scrap.

“We are working on Ryan Garcia vs. Benn. I just got the memo today, that is the fight that everybody wants to see, so I am going to make it happen for you guys.”

As a result, it seems as though that September date could be back on the cards, with De La Hoya presumably now involved in Zuffa boxing’s plans to stage the event. 

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McLaughlin: Tension Lingering Between Big 12, Texas Tech?

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Primary Big 12 logo smallBrett Yormark took the stage at Big 12 media days and got a bit testy with a Texas Tech media figure.

Will tension continue to rise between the two sides?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I make my 2026 record prediction for the Kentucky Wildcats.

How much success can head coach Will Stein expect in Year 1?

Houston Cougars logoHouston burst onto the scene last year with a 10-win campaign, ending with a win over LSU in their bowl game.

Will the Cougars and head coach Willie Fritz build on that success for a Playoff push?

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00:00 Big 12 fan question clarification
03:57 Moving past June’s big storyline
07:29 Big 12 media day controversies
12:24 Will Stein’s quarterback-friendly system
15:35 Analyzing Kentucky’s upcoming season
18:20 Kentucky’s challenging season ahead
23:00 Houston Cougars game predictions

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

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Derrick James reveals the injury Errol Spence suffered from sparring partner before Crawford fight

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Three years ago, Errol Spence Jr suffered a devastating defeat to Terence Crawford when bidding for the undisputed welterweight crown. Now, former trainer Derrick James has revealed that Spence was carrying an injury ahead of that fight.

Spence lost his undefeated record to Crawford in traumatising style, finding himself on the wrong side of one of the standout performances of this generation, dealt a cruel beatdown to bring his reign atop the 147lb division to a brutal close. 

After an extended period away from the sport, Spence is finally set to return to the ring this month, but when reflecting on that fateful night, ‘The Truth’ spoke about a poor training camp and lack of communication with his then trainer James.

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“Nope [I had no conversations with James about how to go about the fight]. That camp was bulls**t. I did no sparring. The guys didn’t fit – I had no southpaws in there to spar. It was all out of whack.”

However, speaking on The Last Stand Podcast, James offered his response to those claims, explaining that Spence sparred switch-hitters rather than southpaws and that his sparring was reduced due to a rib injury. 

“He had two guys that were switch hitters [as sparring partners], both of them fought left-handed, right-handed, and supposedly one of them injured him. 

“I didn’t see when it happened and he didn’t acknowledge that he was injured, but the next following week we sparred, then we took a day off from sparring, then we sparred against on Saturday. 

“So, that’s when I realised, they was like ‘hey man, his ribs are hurt,’ I said, ‘listen, you need to go get that looked at, checked out,’ and I guess he did or he didn’t. I don’t know because I didn’t go with him but we just kept working.

“His father said he’s not sparring, that he was going to save it for the fight. His father is the one that said no sparring, and he was complaining about the way the other guys were sparring, so that’s who it was.

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“The funny thing about it was, the week of being in Vegas I said that we can spar a little bit but spar with one of your buddies that won’t shoot body shots if you have an injury. And he said ‘No, I’m not doing that, I’m not sparring. No.’ So he wouldn’t even do it then.”

Spence returns to action under the tutelage of Ronnie Shields when he takes on Tim Tsyzu on Sunday, July 26, in Australia, hoping to announce himself as a threat to the super-welterweight world titles and kickstart a charge towards becoming a two-division world champion. 

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Shreyas Iyer “Must be Angry” But Still Dinesh Karthik Finds His Post-Match Atrocious Statement ‘Odd’

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India captain Shreyas Iyer was furious after his team’s crushing 125-run defeat to England in the third T20 International, describing the performance as “atrocious” and admitting such a heavy loss was “not acceptable”. Under Iyer, India are yet to win a T20 International, and Tuesday’s outing marked an abject surrender as they were bowled out for 76 in just 11.4 overs while chasing 202, suffering their biggest defeat in the format in terms of runs.

“It was atrocious. Losing by that margin is not acceptable. First things first, we have to accept the loss and go back to the drawing board,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The win handed England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series ahead of the fourth T20I in Bristol on Thursday and the final in Southampton on Saturday. The opening match was a washout.

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Former India star Dinesh Karthik found Iyer’s words odd but acknowledged that he had every right to feel disgruntled.

“Yes, India did not bat well. Probably one of the worst batting performances in a long time. But it was interesting, maybe odd, you can say, for the captain to come down quite hard on the batting unit. He used the word atrocious to describe their batting; he used the word awful as well,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

“You could see how disgruntled and a little upset he was, and he must be angry, understandably so. But knowing Shreyas Iyer, he has to come back because he is such a key member of that batting unit that when he scores, the team looks different, as we have seen with PBKS (Punjab Kings). He is such a critical component of this batting order as well.”

After winning the T20 World Cup 2026 final, India have lost two T20Is each against Ireland and England, while one match was washed out.

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“What’s happening to Team India? Four of the last five matches have been lost, and we are the world champions at the moment. The pitch was probably a little slow, but you expected 200 to be the par score. We felt India could have, and should have, chased that down,” Karthik said.


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Former US Olympian David Hearn pleads not guilty to reflecting pool damage

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Former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleaded not guilty Thursday to deliberately damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Hearn, 67, entered the plea through one of his attorneys during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean did not require Hearn to be supervised by the court while he awaits trial. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 5.

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David Hearn competes

David Hearn of the United States competes in the men’s C1 whitewater canoeing final of the 2000 Summer Olympics at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Penrith, Australia, on Sept. 18, 2000. (David Madison/Getty Images)

Hearn was indicted last week on a felony destruction of property charge following his arrest in connection with the June 19 incident. Hearn denied damaging the pool, saying he stopped on a bike ride and touched a loose piece of the peeling blue coating “to satisfy my curiosity as a citizen.”

Prosecutor Kevin Reddington said the government wasn’t seeking any court supervision for Hearn, but just a “stay-away order,” without specifying in court where it wanted to keep Hearn away from.

Mary Dohrmann, one of Hearn’s attorneys, urged the judge not to impose any conditions of court supervision, calling Hearn an “upstanding citizen and member of the community.”

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

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David Hearn canoes

David Hearn of the United States competes in the men’s C1 whitewater canoeing final of the 2000 Summer Olympics at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Penrith, Australia, on Sept. 18, 2000. (David Madison/Getty Images)

Dohrmann also said “the government’s evidence is weak.”

The Reflecting Pool recently underwent a $14 million rehabilitation project under President Trump. Hearn’s indictment came after several people were arrested or cited for allegedly damaging the reflecting pool.

Video of Hearn’s arrest went viral on X after it was captured by journalist Emily Miller. Miller accused the former Olympian of grabbing a hose that female National Park Service workers were using to clear algae.

Hearn denied the accusation but admitted his bike tire might have hit the hose.

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David Hearn in action

David Hearn of the United States performs during the Olympic Slalom Trials. May 16, 1992. (Doug Pensinger/Allsport)

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told The Washington Post. “By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”

Records show that Hearn has ties to a major left-wing fundraising network.

Hearn represented the United States at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

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Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr, Jackson Thompson, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For Red Sox, baseball suddenly is ‘fun’ as White Sox feel the opposite

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Jul 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (39) hits an RBI-single against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesJul 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (39) hits an RBI-single against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

With separate five-game winning streaks in the past two weeks, the Boston Red Sox continue to roll.

On Thursday afternoon, they’ll aim to keep a perfect road trip going and secure a sweep of the slumping Chicago White Sox.

Boston is 5-0 to start a nine-game trip entering the All-Star break and has won 10 of its past 12 games overall. The Red Sox beat Chicago 5-0 Wednesday night to earn a series victory against the White Sox, who have lost five of their past seven contests.

“Man, we’re having fun,” Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. “It definitely feels different in the clubhouse, different in the dugout. I mean, we’re clicking. So, it’s a lot of fun when you’re stringing some wins together and obviously feels the best it’s felt yet.”

Chicago suddenly is feeling opposite vibes. The White Sox still lead the Cleveland Guardians by one game atop the American League Central despite their slump, but a potent lineup has gone cold to begin a six-game homestand.

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Red Sox rookie left-handers Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have combined to limit Chicago to eight hits in the series. The White Sox, fourth in the majors in home runs, have not scored in the past 11 innings.

“A couple tough arms, you know,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “These big lefties have really good fastballs and a lot of extension; these fastballs get on you a lot. We’ve just been seeing a lot of foul balls. … Just got to continue to compete.”

White Sox shortstop Luisangel Acuna collected two of the team’s four hits in Wednesday’s shutout loss. Colson Montgomery struck out three times and is 0-for-8 in the series.

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Meanwhile, three Red Sox delivered two-hit games Wednesday. Tsung-Che Cheng had a pair of RBI singles while Ceddanne Rafaela and Durbin also had two hits.

Left-hander Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.29 ERA) will aim to help the White Sox salvage a game in the series while trying for his first victory since June 12.

Kay has worked four innings or less in three of his past four starts. That includes last Thursday’s no-decision at Cleveland, when he spaced one run and one hit in four innings with two walks and two strikeouts before storms forced a lengthy rain delay that kept him from returning. Chicago lost 6-5.

Kay is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in five relief appearances vs. Boston, scattering 10 strikeouts and 10 hits in eight innings.

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Boston left-hander Patrick Sandoval will oppose Kay in his first major league appearance since June 21, 2024, following a recovery from Tommy John surgery and other injuries. The Red Sox activated Sandoval from the 60-day injured list on Monday.

“This whole process has been mentally draining and challenging, obviously,” Sandoval said. “The physical stuff, the setbacks and the pain, or whatever, but it took a toll mentally, for sure, and it just taught me a lot.”

Sandoval is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox covering 15 1/3 innings.

Red Sox infielders Willson Contreras (left foot contusion) and Anthony Seigler (right trapezius contusion) left Wednesday’s game in the third inning due to injuries.

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Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said after the game that Contreras could put weight on his foot and Seigler was experiencing soreness. Contreras told reporters he believes his injury is day-to-day.

–Field Level Media

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2026 Genesis Scottish Open Friday tee times: Round 2 groupings

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‘Kylian, forgive us’: How the World Cup turned Mbappé’s reputation around

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Sparks spoil Caitlin Clark’s return, beat Fever

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WNBA scores today Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark Los Angeles Sparks

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever passes the ball against Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks during the second quarter of the game at Crypto.com Arena on July 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike had 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists and the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled Caitlin Clark’s return, beating the Indiana Fever 106-92 in the WNBA on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Clark returned after missing two games because of a back injury. She had nine points in 16 minutes for Indiana (12-9).

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Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 29 points. Lexie Hull added 14, Damiris Dantas had 12 and Tyasha Harris 10. Indiana star Aliyah Boston sat out because of right leg injury.

Rae Burrell added 22 points for Los Angeles (9-11). Dearica Hamby added 21 points and nine rebounds, and Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins each scored 12 for Los Angeles. Kelsey Plum (lower left leg) and Cameron Brink (left ankle) did not play.

Atkins’ steal and fast-break layup capped Los Angeles’ 7-2 to begin the second half for a 55-43 lead. The Sparks led 82-71 entering the fourth.



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Valkyries beat expansion Tempo for 6th straight win

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Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) grabs a loose ball in front of Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (

Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) grabs a loose ball in front of Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Toronto on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO — Janelle Salaun scored 26 points and the Golden State Valkyries held off the expansion Toronto Tempo 83-75 in the WNBA on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Fellow reserve Kaitlyn Chen added 16 points for Golden State (16-7). Kayla Thornton had 15 points and nine rebounds.

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Isabelle Harrison had 24 points and eight rebounds for Toronto (9-12). The Tempo have lost three straight.

Marina Mabrey scored 11 points a day after being named the Tempo’s first WNBA All-Star. She also had six rebounds and four assists.

Toronto players Brittney Sykes (left plantar fascia), Kiki Rice (ankle sprain), and Temi Fagbenle (concussion) all missed the game.



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