Marina Mabrey requests trade as Suns mass exodus could continue

The Connecticut Sun have another player looking for an out. Marina Mabrey is the latest player to request a trade from the Sun this offseason, according to a Wednesday ESPN report. Mabrey’s request comes amid a mass exodus of players from Connecticut. Alyssa Thomas, who spent more than a decade with the Sun, was traded to the Phoenix Mercury, and 2024 Most Improved Player Dijonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris were dealt to the Dallas Wings.DeWanna Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever, and Brionna Jones went to the Atlanta Dream. As of now, Mabrey is one of only three remaining players from last season’s Connecticut team that went to the semifinals.Forward Caitlin Bickle and center Olivia Nelson-Ododa are the other two returners. The Sun did sign eight-time All-Star Tina Charles and former Sky guard Diamond DeShields this offseason, but look nothing like the team that made it to six straight WNBA semifinals as even coach Stephanie White left to take the same job with the Indiana Fever.

Connecticut also added Natasha Cloud via trade. If Mabrey gets her wish, this would be her second time traded in less than a year.She started the 2024 season with the Chicago Sky, but was traded to the Sun in July for two Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson.Mabrey, a New Jersey native, averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 37.3 percent from deep last season, her seventh in the league. With Mabrey being the latest player asking out, this could be a wake-up call for Connecticut that has been years in the making. The Sun are one of only three remaining WNBA franchises who share practice facilities with people other than an NBA counterpart.They practice at the Mohegan Tribe’s Tribal Practice Facility when they are not at Mohegan Sun. During the 2024 playoffs, the Sun infamously had a practice disrupted by a 2-year-old’s birthday party, which Thomas called “the ultimate disrespect.” Many free agents have said they were prioritizing...