The Lunar Owls went from one of the top teams in Unrivaled to the worst one very quickly. Only able to protect two players from last season’s roster, the Lunar Owls lost Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink, and Courtney Williams. They replaced them with Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Edwards, Rachel Banham, and Rebecca Allen. Then, they also lost Napheesa Collier, who had to have surgery on both ankles, before the season even started. Temi Fagbenle filed in for her.
Over the first three games, the Lunar Owls haven’t even had Skylar Diggins, who sat out with an injury. So, the Lunar Owls found themselves with a roster full of role players competing against star-studded teams. Not surprisingly, they lost all three games. But they have shown improvement and were able to keep the game against the Laces close until late in the third quarter. The reason the Lunar Owls were able to hang with the Laces is simple: Marina Mabrey and Aaliyah Edwards. They combined for 64 of the team’s 72 points.
Edwards put together a phenomenal performance with 38 points on 16-19 shooting, 13 rebounds, and 1 assist. Mabrey added 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Edwards and Mabrey are carrying the Lunar Owls’ offense and building great chemistry in the process. Their two-player actions are difficult to guard, and they found each other a lot in transition. If Mabrey re-signs with the Connecticut Sun this offseason, that chemistry and connection could help the Sun run a much-improved offense.
Marina Mabrey is the Sun’s biggest unrestricted free agent this offseason
Marina Mabrey’s stint with the Sun has been tumultuous. She was traded to the team during the 2024 season because she wanted to play for a competitor and Chicago didn’t have the right team for that. After a horrendous offseason that saw the Sun lose Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, DiJonai Carrington, Bri Jones, and Ty Harris, Mabrey was the only key veteran from the 2024 roster left on the team. She asked for a trade, which the organization didn’t grant.
Mabrey missed some time due to an injury, but when she was healthy, she played and did her best to make the Sun as competitive as possible. She averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading the team alongside fellow veteran Tina Charles. In September, Mabrey reportedly said that she wanted to be back with the Sun for the 2026 season. However, she will receive a lot of attention in free agency and may be swayed by the opportunity to play for a contender.
The Sun can also offer Mabrey an enticing opportunity, though. Re-signing with the Sun would come with a big contract, a big role, and a chance to help usher in a new era of Sun basketball. For the Sun, re-signing Mabrey would also have a ton of benefits. They need veterans to guide their young core, and Mabrey could be a veteran who leads by example. Depending on what other moves the Sun can pull off, Mabrey would undoubtedly be one of the team’s top perimeter scorers and defenders.
Moreover, the Sun already have proof that Mabrey and Edwards can thrive together. Edwards came to Connecticut in a mid-season trade from Washington and has the talent to be a centerpiece for the Sun in this rebuild. She and Aneesah Morrow make for a very interesting young frontcourt. Edwards also needs a guard who can run pick-and-rolls with her and set her up in transition. Mabrey could fill that role well.