Image Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

“Mind-boggling” – Marina Mabrey’s agent reacts after Connecticut Sun denies her trade request

Marina Mabrey was denied her trade request by the Connecticut Sun's franchise.

Image Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Connecticut Sun are the only team in the WNBA to lose their entire lineup in the 2025 free-agency period. After the departure of head coach, Stephanie White, the Sun’s experienced a domino effect as Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones joined new franchises.

In the latest free-agency drama, Marina Mabrey was denied her trade request by the Connecticut Sun’s franchise. She joined in 2024 after a mid-season trade with the Chicago Sky and was instrumental in her first season with the Sun. The three-point shooter averaged 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 16 appearances while shooting 42.4% from the three-point line and also finishing fourth in the Sixth-Woman of the Year race.

Marina Mabrey’s agent, Marcus Crenshaw was no fan of this move by the Connecticut Sun franchise and expressed his frustration in a statement given to ESPN. He also termed it as “mind-boggling” to deny the trade request and also questioned the franchise’s decision to hold the player against her wishes.

“In this current age of women’s empowerment and support of the players, the CT Sun threatening to force Marina Mabrey to play for them after her trade request is mind-boggling,” said Crenshaw. Why would anyone try to force someone to play on their team when they don’t want to be there?

The agent also questioned the franchise’s moves in the free-agency. The trade of Alyssa Thomas and DiJonai Carrington and also not re-signing DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones in free-agency played a big role in Marina Mabrey submitting the trade request.

“The coach parted ways. No free agents returned and they are doing all they can to try and force Marina to stay when she clearly doesn’t want to be there. It’s interesting.”

Jennifer Rizzotti, Connecticut Sun president explains the decision to deny Marina Mabrey’s trade request

The Connecticut Sun president, Jennifer Rizzotti told ESPN. that the organization decided it “wasn’t in our best interest to move her because of the value that we gave up to get her, but also that we place on her.” The franchise paid a heavy price to acquire Mabrey mid-season in 2024, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 pick-swap and Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson.

“It’s rooted in a desire to build around her, have her here, have her be the catalyst for what we want to do offensively, taking advantage of her versatility, knowing that the style that [coach] Rashid [Meziane] plays with will suit her game, and knowing that we can put her in an individual situation to be really successful as this current CBA closes and a new one opens.”

The saga between Marina Mabrey and the Connecticut Sun will be one to keep an eye for. The franchise play their first match of the 2025 season against the Washington Mystic and it remains to be seen, whether Marina Mabrey will be present or not.

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Marina Mabrey

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Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

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Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.