UNCASVILLE ― The driven, businesslike approach of the Sun’s practice at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday was underlined by positive buzz of energy — presenting an illusion of stability within the WNBA’s Connecticut-based franchise.
Having concluded their preseason slate on Friday with their 94-86 win over the New York Liberty, players and staff ran through Monday’s practice focused on making final preparations ahead of the long season, with their season-opener against the Mystic at home less than a week away on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. ET.
“We can’t be content,” Sun assistant coach Roneeka Hodges said after practice. “It was a preseason game. Obviously we want to win, it’s great for the morale, it’s a reward for the work that we’ve been putting in.
“But we want to continue to work, we know there (are) areas that we need to get better at, it’s going to be an ongoing process throughout the season.”
But less than three hours after the conclusion of practice, the reality of the franchise’s future in the state were revealed as Sportico reported that the owners of the Connecticut Sun had hired an investment bank, Allen & Company, to explore the possibility of selling the team.
The Sun did not respond to requests for comment on Monday evening. The Mohegan Tribe purchased the WNBA franchise from the owner of Orlando Magic, Rich DeVos, in Jan. 2003 (known then as the ‘Orlando Miracle’).
While the sale of the franchise would likely result in a relocation, a one potential avenue remains to keeping the Sun within New England.
A Boston-based ownership group called Boston Women’s Basketball Partners led by Donnie Wahlberg and former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams were previously reported by the Boston Globe on developing a bid for a WNBA expansion team in Boston.
But since then, the league has not received any official bids for an expansion franchise in Boston as of Apr. 28, according to the Hartford Courant.
Connecticut Sun’s Jacy Sheldon during Sun’s training camp on Apr. 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Connecticut Sun)Connecticut Sun
Jacy Sheldon finding her feet, shines against Liberty
Friday’s game against the Liberty saw Sun guard Jacy Sheldon produce in a big way, scoring 16 points on 5-6 shooting from the field and 3-4 from three-point range.
The former No. 5 overall draft pick is quickly adapting to her role in the Sun’s offense since arriving from Dallas in the four-team trade that sent out DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas.
“It’s about the offense you’re put in,” Sheldon said. “I think this offense is great, it pushes our paces (and) allows us to play freely, allows us to make reads and that’s something necessarily we didn’t have my first year.
“It’s fun for everyone within this system and (we have) a lot of great players here who are fun to play with and chemistry is only going to grow the more we’re out there.”
One of the noticeable features on the court during practice on Monday were the taped squares surrounding the three-point arc: one at the top, two above the break and two more in the corners on both sides of the court. While the corner squares were crammed close to the line, the other three squares were about two feet beyond the arc.
Sheldon explained how a team‘s willingness and ability to shoot and make three-point shots from further out challenges opposing defenses.
“It just makes you harder to guard,” Sheldon said. “You just have to worry about that shot and when players have to come up, it’s easier to get your pull up off, it’s easier to go to the basket, it’s easier to make passes so when you can shoot it (from far), it realy makes the game easier.
“Once they start to fall, there’s a lot more the defense has to worry about… Marina (Mabrey is) a good example of that, she’s been (in the league) for a while and you see that with her, she makes it look easy sometimes because (defenders are) so worried about her shot. You see it with (Stephen) Curry too, they’re so worried about his shot that he’s able to score in so many ways so that’s the fun part.”
Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (4) is guarded by Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the second half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP
Marina Mabrey embracing opportunity to ‘dominate’
Mabrey did not participate in the Sun’s first preseason loss to the Seattle Storm, but she started on Friday and made the most of playing time, scoring 13 points in less than 19 minutes.
She shot 4-9 from the field, hitting 3-7 from beyond the arc and dished out three assists.
As the dust of the offseason exodus has long since settled, Mabrey is being tasked with being the team‘s primary initiator from the perimeter and utilizing the team‘s willingness to play multiple guards like Sheldon and Lindsay Allen, who dished out a game-high seven assists on Friday.
While known primarily for her long-range capabilities, Mabrey‘s assist totals have steadily increased since being entering the W in 2019 but its a role that she feels quite comfortable in — and a comfortable Mabrey is nothing short of lethal and dangerous.
“I don’t think it really matters about positions – if you’re dominant, you’re dominant and I’m trying to be dominant (on) all spots on the floor” Mabrey said. “The more dominant that I am, the easier it is for my teammates.
“So I’m (going to) go out there and make opportunities for myself and for everybody out there (by) attacking, being aggressive, getting to kill spots, getting into post-ups (and) forcing doubles teams, triple teams, forcing their defense to adjust to me. If I can do that, then my team is (going to) eat.”
Mabrey highlighted the opportunity for players to take advantage of the scoring chances to be had on a team that lost over 75% of its average scoring total from last season.
“We have a lot of players also on our team that maybe are a little underrated,” Mabrey said. “They haven’t gotten a chance to play, they haven’t gotten a chance to really perform at a starting level – especially (Olivia Nelson-Odada).
“Look for (her) to be really aggressive this season, I’m going to be installing all kinds of confidence in her, I’m looking for her at all times.”
Nelson-Odada scored 15 points on 4-6 shooting from the field in less than 18 minutes during Friday’s win. She and Mabrey are the only returning members from last year’s roster.
