Around the Sun

Sun Crash Out of Playoffs, Mabrey Opens Up: ‘I’m Misunderstood'

By Anthony Price 

Marina Mabrey watches. Photo: Brian Davey.

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​The Connecticut Sun’s nightmarish season ended Wednesday in an 88-72 loss to the playoff-bound Atlanta Dream. 
 
For the first time in nine years, the Sun will miss the postseason. It was an anticlimactic ending. Like ships passing in New London harbor, the Dream sail on to the playoffs while the Sun head for a long offseason. To add sting, former Sun Brionna Jones scored 13 points for Atlanta, a title contender.

Season of Lows
 
The Sun finished 11-33, the worst record in franchise history, based on win-loss percentage (.250). A 10-game losing streak and a pair of 40-point blowouts underscored how far the team has fallen from its championship-contending past.
 
The young players were the lone bright spot. Playing with energy and enthusiasm even as the season spiraled.

Management’s Reset
 
Morgan Tuck, the young, first-year GM, inherited a roster gutted by free agency and trades. Ten players from last season departed, including key reserves like Veronica Burton, now thriving with the expansion Golden State Valkyries.
 
The veterans brought in—Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey—couldn’t fix a roster filled with five rookies. A rookie head coach, injuries, and a restless fan base added to the turbulence.

I think perspective is everything—maybe you don’t get exactly what you want every time.

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Mabrey Speaks
 
The day after the season ended, the Sun had their exit interviews for reporters via Zoom.  

​Mabrey went first. 
 
When this reporter asked her about how she was able to stay locked-in, given that she asked for a trade before the season, Mabrey calmly responded as if a weight was lifted off her, “I think perspective is everything—maybe you don’t get exactly what you want every time.“
 
“But at the end of the day, I get to do this job. I’m blessed to be in this league, to be the player that I am in this league—especially looking back seven years ago,” she explained, when she came into the league with the Dallas Wings. 

“I think sometimes I’m very misunderstood. Nobody thought I would be on a team very long, or make an impact, or be one of the best players. So, I think that there is a pride in that, and I will never step on the court and let somebody just ‘cook’ me or my team, willingly.” ​

Marina Mabrey shoots. Photo: Brian Davey.

She usually stays stoic to the media. “I feel like God just kind of put me in this position to keep me here because that’s where I belong,” she said, revealing deeper thoughts, rarely shared by her in public. 
 
Despite missing nine games to an injury, Mabrey averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists—a season statistically consistent with her previous output.  She admitted she had to adjust her leadership style for the rookies, who weren’t afraid to challenge her. 
 
“You know everybody’s different,” she said. “We had different personalities, and I realized that at first, they (her young teammates) weren’t really responding to the way I was doing it (leading). I got to give it to the rookies because they are the ones who made me realize that I needed to change. It’s not working. And they weren’t afraid to tell me, ‘No, this is not it.’”
 
And I feel like I’ve changed on the court too,” she said. “I think that my emotional maturity is growing. 

“And just also like the new energy we had this year from all the new players, brought out another side of me—where everything isn’t so serious, and everything isn’t about basketball. So, just finding joy in other things in life has brought that side of my personality out.” 
 
In what could be her swan song in a Sun uniform, Mabrey showcased the beauty of her game, with a game-high 22 points, shooting 8 of 15 from the floor—making deep three-pointers and driving to the basket. 
 
When she’s on, she can cook any player in the league. 

So, I think that there is a pride in that, and I will never step on the court and let somebody just ‘cook’ me or my team, willingly.

Marina Mabrey and Saniya Rivers talk during the game. Photo: Brian Davey.

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The New Core  
 
Rookies Saniya Rivers, Aneesah Morrow, Leila Lacan, and Rayah Marshall showed promise, with Rivers breaking the team’s rookie three-point record. 
 
Lacan was named to the Associated Press All-Rookie Team while second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards emerged as a fan favorite.
 
Rivers learned valuable lessons. “You cannot control everything,” she said after losing on Wednesday. You can’t control going out and winning the game. You can’t control 20 points, but you can control your effort, your energy, and your attitude. And I think in this league, you don’t have time to sulk about losses, or whatever the case may be.”   

And on the lighter side, Rivers added,” I think for me, teaching Marina how to dance was one of my favorite parts [of the season]. You know, giving her a little bit of flavoring, some seasoning, I think that was all on me.” 
 
True to who Rivers is, she’s going to have a good time, and take her teammates along for the ride.  
 
Coach Rachid Meziane hinted at playoff expectations for 2026, though uncertainty looms with a pending sale that could relocate the franchise.

Marina Mabrey waits for play to continue. Photo: Brian Davey.

Looking Ahead
 
For Mabrey, this season was unexpectedly meaningful. When asked about her favorite moment, she said, “This season has been a lot more fun than I anticipated it to be,” reflecting on her growth and her bond with teammates.
 
She hopes that she has built relationships that will last a lifetime. 
 
The Sun will look very different in 2026. The only questions are who will be back—and where they’ll be playing. 

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Anthony Price is an entrepreneur, author and publisher of CT Hoops Magazine. Around the Sun is a weekly column about the Connecticut Sun.