Marina Mabrey And Caitlin Clark’s Rivalry Is Built On Respect

In the WNBA, rivalries are often born in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a playoff series that turns physical. Other times, it’s a single play that gets replayed endlessly, fueling debates far beyond the hardwood.

For Marina Mabrey and Caitlin Clark, their connection is a blend of both. They’ve collided in the postseason, traded contact that would rattle most players, and somehow emerged with a mutual understanding that competition comes first.

Mabrey and Clark share more than a few on-court moments. They share a growing competitive bond.

What might look like a flash point to outsiders is to them a chapter in an unfolding narrative. These two guards are linked by explosive matchups and mutual displays of respect.

Mabrey, who revisited her battles with Clark in a Sportskeeda interview, was clear when she said, “Me and Caitlin were cool,” pointing back to playoff collisions where Clark literally threw her into the benches. It shows there’s history beneath the headlines.

Mabrey And Clark’s Rivalry Runs On Respect

Marina Mabrey, the 31-year-old Connecticut Sun guard, brings veteran poise and sharp shooting whenever she steps onto the court. Caitlin Clark, 23 and now in her second WNBA season with the Indiana Fever, is known for her relentless court vision and infectious energy.

Their competitive relationship sparked in last year's playoffs. Mabrey recalled during that quarterfinal game when Clark “threw me into the benches.”

Still, she said, “We didn’t go after her for it,” adding, “We got back up and kept competing.”