Unmatched — the brand new 3-on-3 skilled girls’s basketball league tipping off Friday — introduced that Marina Mabrey sustained a proper calf pressure throughout coaching camp that’s anticipated to maintain her out of play for 2-4 weeks.
Mabrey, a member of the Phantom membership, underwent an MRI at Mount Sinai with staff doctor Dr. Danica Vance, which revealed the pressure. She will probably be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Unmatched damage replace:
Phantom BC’s guard Marina Mabrey sustained a proper calf pressure throughout coaching camp, and will probably be re-evaluated in 2-4 weeks.
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 16, 2025
The lucky factor for the Phantom is that they’re one in all 5 6-player golf equipment. Even in Mabrey’s absence, they’ll start the season 5 wholesome gamers — the identical because the Lunar Owls, who’ve 5 wholesome gamers (in addition to Cameron Brink, who’s sitting out this season recovering from a torn ACL).
The remainder of the staff — Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Sabrina Ionescu — should step up in her absence, which might find yourself spanning the primary half of the 9-week season.
Unmatched contains 36 WNBA stars. The league’s 1-on-1 event is slated to start on Feb. 10, so Mabrey might be in jeopardy of lacking that as properly.
Mabrey, a guard on the Connecticut Solar, averaged 14.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists through the 2024 season. She was traded from the Chicago Sky to Connecticut midseason, and was one of many staff’s steadiest postseason contributors, averaging 15.9 factors within the playoffs. She sprained her ankle within the Solar’s ultimate postseason sport — a loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Recreation 5 of the Jap Convention — however made a full restoration in time for coaching camp.
With out Mabrey, the Phantom nonetheless have loads of firepower. Head coach Adam Harrington will look to leverage Ionescu and Cloud’s playmaking and taking pictures skills, in addition to Sabally’s two-way versatility.
Sabrina Ionescu is totally cleared to play in Unmatched
Ionescu isn’t 100% after present process surgical procedure final month to restore a torn UCL in her proper thumb, however stated on Thursday that she’s cleared to play.
“[The recovery] has been a little bit sped up,” Ionescu stated. “If I didn’t have this happening, I in all probability might have taken a little bit bit extra time simply rehabbing, letting it heal. However I’m totally cleared by the docs to have the ability to play and proceed to do my rehab whereas I’m out right here and get dwell reps.”
Ionescu additionally famous Thursday she has a number of excused absences all through the season and received’t be there the complete size of time — together with lacking a number of days for NBA All-Star weekend.
“They’ve been very accommodating understanding that I’ve obligations I’ve to be at, having the ability to work by way of that with them and understanding I need to be right here, totally dedicated to my teammates and this staff,” Ionescu stated.
Earlier than Mabrey’s damage, Bleacher Report’s Nekias Duncan predicted that the Phantom can be the highest membership in Unmatched.
