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Marina Mabrey · Midseason trades, particularly ones capable of shifting the entire spectrum of a title race, wouldn’t be described as common occurrences at the WNBA level. For the Connecticut Sun — a franchise entirely aware of its shortcomings in the search towards completing its championship puzzle — the acquisition of Marina Mabrey, in multiple ways, showcased its ability to discover the right player at the right time. Demonstrating that thought process on-court, Connecticut turns to its gifted sharpshooter in an off-ball setting with Mabrey lifting from the baseline towards the 3-point arc. Precise in timing her backward drift with a teammate’s screen, Mabrey elevates into an uncontested catch-and-shoot triple, setting the stage for soon-to-arrive offensive fireworks. Quickly transforming into an unguardable form thereafter, Mabrey recorded 20 of her 27-point avalanche during the second half (on 9-of-20 shooting), alongside three rebounds, three assists, and five 3-pointers in Game One’s blowout victory over the Indiana Fever. In the perfect place to display her competitive zeal, the Sun guard would ultimately leave September 22, 2024 with the WNBA’s single-game playoff record for most points scored off the bench. · State of Mint