Hardly anything remains of a team that made a semi-finals run just last October. The Connecticut Suns have lost all five of their starters and their head coach from the 2024 season, leaving a franchise with 8 consecutive playoff appearances grappling to find its footing. So drama it entails and Marina Mabrey quite literally has no way out.

On the 18th, a page on X shared a post that read: “Marina Mabrey’s IG story 😭 (that’s Jennifer Rizzotti – President of the Connecticut Sun).” It was a screenshot of a now-deleted post and IG story by the Suns’ guard. “Interesting,” she had written above a post that showed Rizzotti and her sharing a hug. 

It seemed like a clear shot at the Sun’s decision to block her trade request– her distaste of which was made clear by her agent, Marcus Crenshaw’s words.

“Why would anyone try to force someone to play on their team when they don’t want to be there?” Crenshaw told ESPN. “It’s counterproductive in a ton of ways.”

Mabrey was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She played one season for the Sparks before being traded to the Dallas Wings in 2020 and the Chicago Sky in 2023, and eventually requested a trade that landed her in Connecticut mid-season in 2024. 

The Sun, however, aren’t backing down. President Jennifer Rizzotti defended the decision, citing the “value” Mabrey brings to the team. “It’s rooted in a desire to build around her,” Rizzotti said, emphasizing Mabrey’s role as a key offensive piece. But for Mabrey, who’s been vocal about wanting out, the situation feels anything but positive. Her camp is framing this as a broader issue of player empowerment.

“In this current age of women’s empowerment and support of the players,” Crenshaw said, “the CT Sun threatening to force Marina Mabrey to play for them is mind-boggling.”

Arike Ogunbowale has joined the conversation, too. “Me, all season if my trade request got denied,” Arike posted on social media, alongside a GIF of someone wildly throwing objects. Arike and Marina go way back. They were teammates at Notre Dame and later with the Dallas Wings.

As the Sun continue to reshape their roster with new additions like Tina Charles and Natasha Cloud, the question remains: Can they afford to keep a player who doesn’t want to be there? For now, Mabrey’s deleted Instagram story says it all—she’s ready to move on, even if the Sun aren’t.

Rizzotti and the Sun hold firm; continue to include Marina Mabrey in their plan

The Sun has been through a lot lately. The team first traded Alyssa Thomas to Pheonix Mercury. DiJonai Carrington is now with the Dallas Wings while DeWanna Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever. But the team isn’t giving up on Marina. Rizzotti made it clear: “We’re not trading her. She’s part of our plan.”

And she doesn’t just seem to be talking. The Sun have been busy rebuilding. They signed Tina Charles in free agency, followed by Diamond DeShields, who joined on a one-year deal. Furthermore, the Thomas trade brought the Sun the eighth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. There an opportunity for a good foundation there. But for now, Rizzotti is focused on the present. 

“We’ve got a good group,” she said. “We’re not giving up on this season.”

The Sun have been close to a title before. Three WNBA Finals in five years is no small feat. But they’ve always fallen short. Running into powerhouses like the Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces didn’t help. Now, with the roster in flux, the pressure is on.