UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Marina Mabrey delivered an impressive performance, contributing 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Connecticut Sun past the depleted New York Liberty with a 78-62 victory on Friday night.
This defeat marked the fourth straight loss for the Liberty, who were grappling with the absence of star forward Breanna Stewart, sidelined due to a bone bruise in her right knee. Compounding their challenges, the team also missed the presence of Nyara Sabally, nursing a knee injury, and Kennedy Burke, dealing with a right calf strain. This left New York with a mere eight active players.
The Liberty are experiencing their longest losing streak since 2022, where they endured streaks of five and seven games without a win. The matchup also brought back memories of the last time Connecticut defeated New York at home.
Friday saw Emma Meesseman join the Liberty, though the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP did not step onto the court as she was still adjusting to the team. Coach Sandy Brondello remains optimistic about her participation in the lineup for the rematch against the Sun on Sunday in Connecticut.
For the Connecticut Sun, who now stand at 5-21, this victory was significant for a burgeoning team eager to carve out its own path. Notable contributions came from reserves Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan, each scoring 16 points, while veteran Tina Charles added 15 to the tally.
Despite initially trailing 20-15 after the first quarter, Connecticut surged ahead with a particularly strong second quarter, closing the half with a 44-37 advantage following a clutch jumper from Charles just before the break. The Sun were efficient, shooting 50% from the field in the first half.
The Sun’s momentum carried into the third quarter as they expanded their lead to 56-46, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Mabrey with 3:36 remaining. Although the Liberty, enduring their sixth game in just 11 days, closed the gap to 69-62 with a layup from Stephanie Talbot with over five minutes remaining, those would be their last points scored.
Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 23 points, and Jonquel Jones chipped in with 14. However, the team was plagued by 21 turnovers, hindering their efforts to mount a comeback.