Marina Mabrey, Saniya Rivers emerge as unanticipated duo in Connecticut
The very first thing Connecticut Sun star Marina Mabrey did after leading the team to its very first triumph of the season over the Indiana Fever on Friday night was pull novice Saniya Rivers into a hug with an ear-to-ear smile on her face.
The Sun arrived in Indianapolis as the only winless group left in the WNBA, and they knew the match provided a major opportunity with super star Caitlin Clark sidelined by a quad stress. Mabrey put the team on her back after halftime, scoring 13 in the 3rd quarter to complete with a season-high 26 points shooting 10-for-17. However even after getting in the 4th ahead by nine, the Sun nearly had another late meltdown. The Fever went on a furious 19-2 run behind 3 straight 3-pointers from former Connecticut forward DeWanna Bonner and took a two-point lead with less than 3 minutes staying on the clock.
When the Sun required it most, Mabrey and Rivers stepped up. Rivers, who balanced 27.2% from 3-point range in her senior year at NC State, nailed a shot from almost 30 feet out to end the run, improving her to 3-for-5 beyond the arc and providing Connecticut a two-score lead. Though Indiana’s Lexie Hull addressed with a three of her own, Mabrey instantly struck a crisp midrange jumper to keep the Sun ahead. Rivers then drew a critical foul versus Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell with 5 seconds on the clock, and though the nerves got to her on her first complimentary throw attempt, she calmly sank the 2nd that eventually clinched the 85-83 victory for Connecticut.
“It was a little frightening, but I think that we stayed together as a group this time,” Mabrey stated. “That’s something that we’ve been talking about at practice, at film and there were some difficult discussions we needed to have, but when you have those discussions, it truly helps bring your group together. I feel like that’s what assisted us come together at the end, understanding that if we just stick, we will triumph.”
The connection in between Mabrey and Rivers was at the heart of the full-team effort. Rivers completed with a career-high six assists, three of which went to Mabrey, and Mabrey likewise had the help on Rivers’ first 3-pointer of the game. The rookie, who finished with 12 points, had the greatest plus-minus ranking on the team at plus-14, and she combined with Mabrey for 7 of the team’s 10 made 3s in the win.
The 22-year-old from North Carolina never anticipated the close friendship she’s established with the 28-year-old New Jersey native, however she stated their relationship beyond basketball has actually had a fast effect on their in-game chemistry.
“I feel like this is the most random relationship ever,” Rivers said. “I think no one anticipated it genuine, but I think we gel truly well. Certainly I look for her on the court because I seem like she’s the very best shooter on our group, so I’m gon na seek to get the ball in her hands, but I simply feel like we stream. I don’t require it, it just occurs that she’s there. That connection comes off the court, too. We hang out a lot, do TikTok, stuff like that, and I feel like it’s actually transitioning well onto the court.”
Olivia Nelson-Ododa # 10 of the Sun passes the ball to Marina Mabrey # 3 during the second quarter versus the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Image by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)Mabrey and Rivers are something of an odd duo, however they are likewise a perfect enhance to each other in many ways. Rivers is an extrovert to her core, bubbling with seemingly limitless energy and almost always wearing her infectious smile. Mabrey brings herself with more strength as she handles a brand-new burden of management in 2025, striving to hold her teammates to the very same ultra-competitive standard she has for herself.
Even amid the team’s frustrating 0-5 start to the season, Rivers has actually assisted Mabrey lean into her fun side. The novice frequently gets Mabrey associated with her shenanigans on TikTok, and she stated she’s teaching the veteran guard to prepare after Mabrey went viral during Unrivaled for a series of videos showcasing her restricted understanding in the kitchen.
“She put oil on the meat, and the meat produces its own oil, so who’s the chef?” Rivers teased Mabrey after Friday’s win. “Let’s ask the concern, ‘When the oil starts to actually stand apart, how do you get the oil out?'”
“You put a paper towel in the thing– the pan,” Mabrey responded smugly.
“That’s true, you dab it with a paper towel! I didn’t think she understood that,” Rivers told press reporters with a smile.
Mabrey has actually also offered the constant veteran existence Rivers requires as she gets used to her first WNBA season, specifically after missing out on the majority of training camp to grieve the unexpected death of her mom.
“When I returned, she was much like anything you require, I’m here, whether that’s a hug or a conversation or whatever,” Rivers stated. “She’s just really attempting to instill self-confidence in me to shoot the ball, if I screw up to provide myself grace, however also if you mess up, make certain that you mess up (offering) 100%, and I feel like I have actually truly been taking that into account … I think we’re simply gelling really well since I’m listening to my veterinarian, and we have actually simply got an advantage going on.”
However keeping that good thing going may hinge heavily on the success of Mabrey’s cooking lessons.
“It depends on how this pizza tastes,” Rivers joked, earning an eye roll from Mabrey. “I might never ever listen to another word she says.”
Connecticut Sun novice Saniya Rivers shines in psychological WNBA launching after mom’s unanticipated death