It seems like Connecticut Solar guard Marina Mabrey is right here to remain. The veteran guard, who reportedly requested a commerce final yr however noticed her request denied, instructed reporters on Wednesday that she plans to return to Uncasville subsequent season.
“So yeah, I’ll be again subsequent season,” Mabrey stated, per The Subsequent Solar reporter Gabby Alfveby.
Mabrey averaged 14.2 factors, 4.3 assists, and 4 rebounds this previous season. And whereas she wasn’t significantly environment friendly — the 28-year-old guard shot 36.2% from the sphere and 27% from three — she was one of many go-to choices on the roster.
Mabrey will stick to a younger rebuilding core in Connecticut
The Solar, who misplaced almost their total rotation final offseason, are contemporary off the primary yr of a rebuild.
With one sport left to play, Connecticut completed with an 11-32 report, however noticed substantial enchancment after rookie guard Leila Lacan joined the crew midseason. They ended up successful 5 of their final 10 video games, and noticed huge enhancements on each ends of the ground put up All-Star break.
Leila Lacan, Saniya Rivers, and Aneesah Morrow — the crew’s three rookies — all had sturdy Yr 1 campaigns. Morrow demonstrated that she was a formidable rebounder, Rivers an elite defender, and Lacan precisely the participant the Solar hoped she’d be once they drafted her in 2024. The Solar additionally acquired Aaliyah Edwards in a midseason commerce — the place she suits sooner or later stays to be seen.
Numerous questions proceed to encompass Connecticut — the first one being the long run location of the franchise, which is presently up on the market.
However Mabrey simply answered one massive query surrounding the way forward for the Solar: whether or not or not she’ll be returning for Yr 2 underneath Rachid Meziane.
