Marina

Mabrey

Mabrey suffered a left knee injury during Connecticut’s June 20 game against Dallas, with the issue keeping her out of Sunday’s loss to Golden State. Tuesday afternoon, the Sun announced that she’ll miss at least 2-4 weeks. Bria Hartley started against the Valkyries and will likely retain that spot until Mabrey returns, while Lindsay Allen should also pick up additional playing time.

After scoring in double figures in consecutive games, the rookie forward found her way into the Sun’s starting lineup on Sunday. She tallied another double-digit scoring performance, although the blowout loss likely played a part in her receiving just 16 minutes of game action, which prevented her from even more production. It should be noted that Morrow’s first start coincided with Marina Mabrey’s first missed game of the season. It’s possible this production could be short-lived if Morrow can’t hold on to this role when Mabrey returns.

On the heels of back-to-back double-digit scoring outings, Morrow has been inserted into the Sun’s starting unit, likely due to Marina Mabrey (knee) missing her first game of the season. Connecticut has lost five consecutive games and enters Sunday’s contest with the WNBA’s worst record. With Morrow and Saniya Rivers starting, the Sun hopes the two rookies can play a role in getting the team back in the win column.

Initially questionable with a left knee injury, Mabrey will sit out the first game of Connecticut’s road trip. Her absence leaves a sizable hole in the Sun starting lineup, as the veteran guard is one of two players averaging double figures in scoring. While Bria Hartley has started games this season, Lindsay Allen is another possibility to fill the void left by Mabrey.

Due to a left knee injury, Mabrey is not guaranteed to be available for the first game of Connecticut’s road trip. If she cannot play, that would be a significant loss for the Sun to deal with, as the veteran guard is the team’s second-leading scorer. Either Bria Hartley or Lindsay Allen would likely move into the starting lineup if Mabrey sits.

The degree of difficulty for a majority of Mabrey’s shots contributed to her inefficiency on Friday night against the wings. She tried to drive and score in a clogged paint in addition to taking shots where she didn’t have much separation. The two field goals she made were either off the catch or as a result of a screening action. With 2:37 left in the second quarter, Mabrey hit a step-back three on the left wing that came as a result from a screen from teammate Haley Peters that gave her more room to set her shot. While her shot wasn’t falling, she still found a way to facilitate. She found Jacy Sheldon in transition, and Charles in her spots near the basket. Toward the end of second quarter, Mabrey’s left knee buckled, and during halftime she was ruled as questionable to return. She returned to start in the third quarter, however, playing 13 of her 29 minutes in the second half.

Sheldon and her Sun teammates have had quite the 24 hours since the Sun were in Indiana on Tuesday night for their game against the Fever that resulted in multiple flagrant fouls and fines including for Sheldon’s teammate Marina Mabrey. Speaking of Mabrey, the Sun combo guard was responsible for finding Sheldon three times for seven of her 13 total points. Mabrey found Sheldon in transition rim running a couple of times and on the right wing for a step back three. Sheldon scored the majority of her points in the second quarter and was responsible for cutting the Mercury’s lead of the Sun to five points after going on her own 5-0 run.

Mabrey scored a season-low in points while tying a season-low in assists and made field goals on Tuesday. Further highlighting her struggles, the veteran guard finished with four turnovers and failed to make a three-pointer for the first time all season. The Fever had this Sun offense completely out of sorts from the jump, which has unfortunately been a theme for Connecticut. The Sun has failed to record 80 points in seven of its 11 games this season, and if they hope to end their three-game losing streak on Wednesday against the Mercury, they’ll need Mabrey to lead the way on the offensive end.

Mabrey finished the first half of Sunday’s game well, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. The Sun guard was responsible for 16 points and four three-pointers in the first half, but she cooled off considerably. Mabrey shot 1-of-6 from the field after halftime, missing all three of her shot attempts during the fourth quarter. While the final stat line was solid, Mabrey’s game was a tale of two halves. She’ll look to bounce back when the Sun visit Indiana on Tuesday.

Mabrey has had to carry the majority of the offensive load for the Sun and that same trend carried into Sunday afternoon. She led her team in assists including dishing out four of them in the first quarter. Mabrey went on a 5-0 scoring run herself in the middle of the second quarter which included a 29-foot step-back three to try to will the Sun back into the game. It just wasn’t enough. Mabrey fouled out after she made contact with Shakira Austin on a finish at the rim in the fourth quarter. Her role should keep her in fantasy starting lineups going forward.