The Prime Voice
TRENDING
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks
No Result
View All Result
The Prime Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home Connecticut Sun

Where denying Marina Mabrey’s trade request leaves the Connecticut Sun

by John Maxner
22 February 2025
in Connecticut Sun
0
Where denying Marina Mabrey's trade request leaves the Connecticut Sun

Order ‘Becoming Caitlin Clark’ and save 30%

Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, just announced his latest book. It captures both the historic nature of Caitlin Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible. Interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder, C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and so many others were vital to the process.

If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar.” Click the link below to preorder and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.


Now that the franchise will enter the 2025 season in a very different position than last season, losing all five of its starters, Mabrey has some doubts about what she agreed to during her trade to the Sun. She came to Connecticut to win a championship, and it seems that the window of opportunity has passed for that to happen anytime soon. The Sun team that Mabrey signed a contract with is very different than the one that will take the floor in 2025 under the direction of newly-hired head coach Rachid Meziane.

“In this current age of women’s empowerment and support of the players, the CT Sun threatening to force Marina Mabrey to play for them after her trade request is mind-boggling,” Mabrey’s agent, Marcus Crenshaw of The FAM agency said in a statement provided to ESPN. “Why would anyone try to force someone to play on their team when they don’t want to be there? It’s counterproductive in a ton of ways and everyone we have spoken to is perplexed about how they are handling Marina, after trading away Hall of Fame caliber players.”

Also Read:   Sun lose Veronica Burton in expansion draft

“The coach parted ways. No free agents returned and they are doing all they can to try and force Marina to stay when she clearly doesn’t want to be there. It’s interesting.”

Team president Jennifer Rizzotti has a different perspective.

“The reasons that we have for not trading Marina are rooted in positivity,” Rizzotti told ESPN. “It’s rooted in a desire to build around her, have her here, have her be the catalyst for what we want to do offensively, taking advantage of her versatility, knowing that the style that [coach] Rashid [Meziane] plays with will suit her game, and knowing that we can put her in an individual situation to be really successful as this current CBA closes and a new one opens.”

The Sun can hardly afford to lose Mabrey, especially after losing so many players to trades and free agency. Mabrey’s presence on the court for the Sun comes with key advantages, including her ability to generate her own offense and her speciality in 3-point shooting. She left her alma mater Notre Dame as the program’s all-time leader in made three-pointers (274) and was the Chicago Sky’s top scorer alongside guard Chennedy Carter last season before being traded to the Sun.

With the addition of center Tina Charles, Mabrey’s offensive production will help the Sun spread the floor and free up the paint for Charles. The 5’11 guard has an assertive scoring style, taking some of the most difficult shots in basketball — stepbacks and fadeaways. Our Alissa Hirsh of The Next reported last season while Mabrey was still with the Sky that a large majority of her 3-point attempts throughout her career have been from at least 2 feet behind the three-point line.

Also Read:   Charter flights may have benefited the Sun the most

Alissa Hirsh also reported that Latricia Trammell, former Dallas Wings head coach whom also coached Mabrey on the Los Angeles Sparks in 2019, spoke very highly of Mabrey when the Sky played the Wings in June 2024.

“She honestly believes every shot’s going in. I don’t care where she’s taking it from,” Trammell told reporters.

Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey shoots the ball during the WNBA All-Star Game 3-point contest at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, July 19, 2024. (Photo Credit: Joe Rondone | The Republic)

One factor that may have sparked Mabrey’s trade request is that the Sun are grouped with the few remaining WNBA teams that don’t have player practice facilities. The franchise has yet to announce any plans to build one. During the 2024 playoffs, the issue surfaced when the team had to share their practice court with a child’s birthday party.

The lack of resources and facility are not only making it difficult to attract free agents but may have pushed players away from the franchise including former Sun forward Alyssa Thomas. Thomas was drafted by the Sun in 2014 and had spent the entirety of her WNBA season with the franchise before her departure to Phoenix.

“I mean, Mohegan has to do better,” Thomas told The Next in September during the playoffs. “We’re [a] professional team. We’re competing for playoffs. And yeah, to have to share your court with a two-year-old[‘s] birthday party, [it’s the] ultimate disrespect. … We need more, we need better to compete at the highest level.”


Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Also Read:   A brief history of the WNBA star trade

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.


Rizzotti told Eric Jackson of Sportico that the Sun “knew at the time that [Mabrey] had already forced her way out of two teams, so it was a bit risky … to trade for her, but we felt like it was worth it.” She also believes that it’s not an uncommon situation in professional sports for athletes under contract to navigate playing for teams that may not be their first choice.

“I think there’s probably a lot of professional athletes that are on teams that they don’t necessarily prefer to be on,” Rizzotti said. “I don’t think that this would be an isolated situation. … I think Marina is as competitive as they come. It’s one of the reasons that we wanted her here … it might also be seen as counterproductive for us to give in to every single trade request, right? So I think sometimes you get put in a no-win situation, and I think we’re trying to be as fair as we can to a lot of different constituents.”

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, there are a lot of unknowns in Uncasville. Despite losing five starters and a head coach in the offseason, Rizzotti believes the Sun have made moves in free agency that will set them up for the future — a future that includes Mabrey.

“We’re not hitting the panic button,” Rizzotti said. “We feel good about the moves that we’ve made. We’ve been very intentional about our priorities. … And by 2028, I don’t think there will be a WNBA team without a new [training] facility. That’s the way it should be.”

Related Posts

Leïla Lacan’s Rookie Rise Signals Bigger Things to Come » Winsidr
Connecticut Sun

Leïla Lacan’s Rookie Rise Signals Bigger Things to Come » Winsidr

20 September 2025
How highs and lows filled the Connecticut Sun's 2025 season
Connecticut Sun

How highs and lows filled the Connecticut Sun’s 2025 season

17 September 2025
Here's what the Connecticut Sun are up to this offseason
Connecticut Sun

Here’s what the Connecticut Sun are up to this offseason

17 September 2025
How Saniya Rivers has found joy despite mental health struggles
Connecticut Sun

How Saniya Rivers has found joy despite mental health struggles

13 September 2025
The emergence of Aneesah Morrow
Connecticut Sun

The emergence of Aneesah Morrow

12 September 2025
Connecticut Sun rookie trio makes their case for All-Rookie team
Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun rookie trio makes their case for All-Rookie team

4 September 2025
Next Post
Connecticut Sun add international experience, young talent

Connecticut Sun add international experience, young talent

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • 312 Followers

Recommended

Defense is a struggle for the Sparks. Will new changes help?

Defense is a struggle for the Sparks. Will new changes help?

16 August 2025
A’ja Wilson continues to prove her case for MVP, helping Las Vegas in playoff push

A’ja Wilson continues to prove her case for MVP, helping Las Vegas in playoff push

19 August 2025
Kelsey Plum’s WNBA Finals Master Class » Winsidr

Kelsey Plum’s WNBA Finals Master Class » Winsidr

13 June 2024
Connecticut Sun add international experience, young talent

Connecticut Sun add international experience, young talent

22 February 2025
Locked On Women's Basketball: Li Yueru wants out

Locked On Women’s Basketball: Li Yueru wants out

5 June 2025
Natasha Howard brings ideal skills and traits to Indiana Fever

Natasha Howard brings ideal skills and traits to Indiana Fever

1 February 2025

About Us

At ThePrime Voice, we are passionate about bringing you the latest and most exciting developments in the world of technology. Our mission is to simplify the complex, making tech news accessible to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or just starting your journey into the digital realm.

Categories

  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Las Vegas Aces
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • New York Liberty
  • Seattle Storm
Live from the WNBA Finals: A'ja Wilson gives the Aces a 3-0 lead

Live from the WNBA Finals: A’ja Wilson gives the Aces a 3-0 lead

10 October 2025
How the Aces stars shined in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals

How the Aces stars shined in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals

9 October 2025
Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd help secure the Aces' Game 1 victory

Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd help secure the Aces’ Game 1 victory

5 October 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2024 - The Prime Voice. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks

Copyright © 2024 - The Prime Voice. All Rights Reserved.