Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas waltzed into the lane for a largely uncontested layup in the second quarter of Game 2 of the WNBA semifinal series against the Lynx on Tuesday at Target Center. ADVERTISEMENT Suns guard Marina Mabrey wasn’t even visible on the broadcast during the play until after the layup went down, as she was camped in the near-side corner for spacing purposes. Neither was her defender.
Lynx wing Bridget Carleton was effectively glued to Mabrey. Carleton didn’t move a muscle to help as Thomas went in for the layup. It was not a lack of effort on Carleton’s part, nor was it a mental breakdown.
It was a decision Minnesota seemingly made ahead of Game 2, that Mabrey was not going to beat the Lynx. The 27-year-old sharpshooter was one of the key mid-season acquisitions in 2024. Since arriving in August from Chicago, Mabrey has added a critical component to Connecticut’s offense, averaging 15 points over her final 16 regular-season games while shooting 42 percent from deep.
That production carried into the postseason, as Mabrey lit up Indiana for 27 points in the Suns’ playoff opener. In Game 1 of the semifinal series, she was 6 for 10 on three-point shots to help the Sun down the Lynx. A few of those triples in Game 1 were open looks stemming from overhelp or miscommunications on switches.
No such opportunities were going to be provided in Game 2. Whether it was Carleton or Kayla McBride, the Lynx refused to give Mabrey even an ounce of oxygen on.
