Revenge game? Former Notre Dame star takes 'cooking' to next level to beat Fever, former coach

Indianapolis Star

a day ago

INDIANAPOLIS — It was another scoring outburst in the state of Indiana by a former Notre Dame women's basketball star.
Marina Mabrey scored 15 of her game-high 26 points to lead her Connecticut Sun to an 85-83 win over the Indiana Fever on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And not even a minute after beating her former coach, Stephanie White, and teammate, DeWanna Bonner, Mabrey found herself in an unfamiliar position as rookie teammate Saniya Rivers said she would teach Mabrey how to cook in their next TikTok video, and it was Mabrey who would select which meal they'd prepare.
'We should make pizza,' Mabrey said.
Rivers shook her head and scratched her forehead before offering a response.
'We're done,' Rivers said. 'That's a terrible answer.'
Rivers' and Mabrey's news conference was filled with more friendly jabs and an abundance of laughter after the Sun captured their first victory of the season, and sending the hobbled Fever to a third straight loss.
Mabrey's outburst in Indiana is no surprise. The 5-foot-11 guard won a national championship in 2018 with Notre Dame and still holds the school's record for most 3-pointers with 274. She was 10-for-17 shooting and 4 for 9 on 3s Friday, adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
'I won a national championship here, so I love being here, and the Indiana fans always welcome me back with open arms,' Mabrey said. 'I always appreciate them.'
The Sun's lead grew to 74-59 with 8:47 left before Bonner checked into the game and led the Fever on a furious run. Indiana (2-3) scored 16 straight points, helped by Bonner's three 3s in that stretch, to take the lead. But the Sun had an 8-3 burst of their own. A clutch 2-pointer from Mabrey with 1:15 remaining and a free throw from Rivers in the final seconds handed the Fever their second straight loss without star guard Caitlin Clark.
Mabrey also reunited with Bonner, who spent four years with Sun before joining the Fever this year, and former Sun coach Stephanie White. Although Mabrey only played half a season with Bonner after getting traded to the Sun right before last year's All-Star break, the two-time WNBA champion still impacted Mabrey.
'I love seeing them, and they're great competitors. Of course, DB coming in at the end trying to take that sh-- from us, I was like, 'Here, she goes.'' Mabrey said. 'She was one of the greatest leaders I ever played with and I learned so much from her. She's so gentle in the way that she leads and I hope she enjoys the rest of her career because we'll all miss her when she's gone.'
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Rivers has become a recipient of the gentleness Bonner offered Mabrey. Rivers' mother died roughly two weeks after she was drafted to the Sun in April's WNBA draft. Rivers said Mabrey 'was there consistently,' which helped as she grieved.
'As soon as I got here, she let me know off rip that, 'You could talk to me about basketball and off-court stuff.' When I (returned to the team), she said, 'Anything you need, I'm here, whether it's a hug or conversation,'' Rivers said. 'On the court, she tries to instill confidence in me and (tells me) 'Shoot the ball. If you mess up, give yourself grace, but also, if you mess up, make sure you mess up going 100%. I feel like I have been taking that into account.'
It was an important place and time for Mabrey, who requested and was denied a trade in February by the Sun. Instead she became a veteran and one of the few holdovers of a team that lost its coach and starting lineup, and her impact is noticeable.
Mabrey's on-court guidance gives Rivers utmost faith that one day, the mentee will defeat the mentor.
'I told Marina that I'm going beat her one-on-one, and she doesn't believe me. But that goes with the confidence piece, so I'm gaining momentum,' Rivers said as Mabrey looked on shockingly.
'That's a big jump,' Mabrey said before River's followed with another bold statement.
"I'm going to beat you 11-7,' she said.
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Rivers said she hopes the 'good thing' between her and Mabrey continues as she listens to her vet. She made a career-high three 3s after entering the game with two in five games.
However, Mabrey's cooking skills may cost the former national champion her credibility.