Friday, January 17, 2025

Unmatched broadcasts first WNBA participant damage forward of league tip-off

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 group doctor Dr. Danica Vance, which revealed the pressure. She can be re-evaluated in two weeks.

The lucky factor for the Phantom is that they’re considered one of 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 group — Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Natasha Cloud, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Sabrina Ionescu — must step up in her absence, which may 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 could possibly be in jeopardy of lacking that as effectively.

Mabrey, a guard on the Connecticut Solar, averaged 14.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists throughout the 2024 season. She was traded from the Chicago Sky to Connecticut midseason, and was one of many group’s steadiest postseason contributors, averaging 15.9 factors within the playoffs. She sprained her ankle within the Solar’s closing postseason sport — a loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Sport 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 slightly sped up,” Ionescu stated. “If I didn’t have this happening, I most likely may have taken slightly 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 total size of time — together with lacking a number of days for NBA All-Star weekend.

“They’ve been very accommodating realizing that I’ve obligations I’ve to be at, having the ability to work by that with them and realizing I wish to be right here, totally dedicated to my teammates and this group,” Ionescu stated.

Earlier than Mabrey’s damage, Bleacher Report’s Nekias Duncan predicted that the Phantom could be the highest membership in Unmatched.


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