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Sun Guard Marina Mabrey Gets a Tech After Standing Up For Her Teammate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Reign Amurao | Last updated May 19, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The Connecticut Sun played their first game of the 2025 WNBA season on Sunday. They played against the Washington Mystics but couldn't get the win. The Sun had a close 90-85 loss in their first game of the new campaign.

Late in the first quarter, however, things got heated between Sun guard Marina Mabrey and Mystics center Shakira Austin. Mabrey's rookie teammate, Kariata Diaby, tried to get into a post-up position against Austin. However, the fourth-year player was called for a common defensive foul after she shoved Connecticut's first-year player.

Mabrey was quick to defend her teammate and went after Austin.

Mabrey and Austin exchanged words and had to be separated by the officials and their teammates. After their heated interaction, the referees gave each of them a technical foul.

Shakira Austin and Marina Mabrey both received techs for this?

@showcaseshabazz on X pic.twitter.com/sK4f7hw667
— WNBA Got Game (@wnbagotgame) May 18, 2025

Things went worse for Austin as she was issued another technical foul during the third quarter. The officials blew their whistles as the center yelled something from the bench. She ended her night with four points and three rebounds.

Mabrey, meanwhile, did not get into any more trouble with the officiating crew after getting her lone technical foul in the first period. The seven-year veteran had 11 points on a not-so-efficient 5-for-21 shooting.

The Sun guard didn't have the best night shooting the basketball and made 12.5% of her 3-pointers.

Fans might be looking out for the next contest between the two teams following the heated exchange between Mabrey and Austin. Their next game against each other will be on June 8.

The second game for the Sun this season will be on Tuesday against the Las Vegas Aces.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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