Tag Archives: WNBA highlights

Marina Mabrey Breaks Silence on Shoving Caitlin Clark — But Is Anyone Buying It?

Today, a headline caught my attention while scrolling Reddit — an article about Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey finally speaking on that shove of Caitlin Clark.

If you’ve been following the WNBA this season, you know exactly the moment I’m talking about. It happened June 17 during the Fever–Sun game. In the third quarter, Fever rookie star Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Sun guard Jacy Sheldon while Sheldon was playing defense. That led to a brief scuffle between Clark and Sheldon — and then, seemingly out of nowhere, Mabrey came in and shoved Clark to the ground.

It instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the 2025 WNBA season, sparking weeks of debate about how Clark is treated by other players in the league. Many fans argued that Mabrey should have been ejected along with others involved, like Jacy Sheldon and Tina Charles.

At the time, Mabrey didn’t say much — other than an infamous Instagram Live moment where she joked about the incident. But now, nearly two months later, she’s speaking publicly in an August 10 interview with Mark Medina.

Mabrey’s Side of the Story

In the interview, Mabrey claimed that she thought shove was upgraded to a flagrant foul because of how fans reacted.

“They gave me a tech for it initially. I don’t care. Honestly, I really don’t. Obviously, I’m not trying to hurt anyone. I’m not trying to go after certain players for certain [stuff].”

She also insisted that she and Caitlin Clark were “cool,” recalling past matchups where Clark had thrown her into the benches during the playoffs without any lingering hard feelings. Mabrey said she “probably overreacted a little bit” but was protecting her teammates.

The History Between Mabrey and Clark

For many fans, Mabrey’s explanation rings hollow because this isn’t the first time she’s mocked or taken shots at Clark. Last season, after DiJonai Carrington poked Clark in the eye during the playoffs, Mabrey was caught on camera making fun of it from the sideline.

Since joining Connecticut, Mabrey’s confrontations with Clark have seemed to escalate — from verbal jabs to physical plays. The June 17 shove wasn’t an isolated moment; it felt like the culmination of ongoing tension.

A Pattern of Targeting?

Whether or not Mabrey wants to admit it, Caitlin Clark has faced targeted physicality from multiple players since entering the league. From Chennedy Carter’s hard foul to Brittney Griner’s near clothesline, Clark has been on the receiving end of some rough treatment — and Sophie Cunningham even admitted teams had game-planned for how to “welcome” Clark to the WNBA.

In the Connecticut matchup after the shove, Jacy Sheldon reportedly used similar tactics again, even attempting a groin shot. That was also the game Clark suffered an injury that has kept her sidelined since.

Why Speak Now?

Two months later, Mabrey’s comments feel less like genuine reflection and more like image control. If she truly felt misunderstood, why not address it in the postgame presser back in June? Why wait until August — and only after the public outrage had cooled — to share her version?

For many fans, this belated explanation isn’t enough to erase the perception of Mabrey as one of the league’s dirtier players. Actions speak louder than interviews, and we’ll see just how “cool” things really are when the Fever face the Sun again — possibly with Clark back in the lineup.

Because if Jacy Sheldon isn’t there to guard her this time, will Mabrey step up for that assignment? And if so, will it be clean competition… or more of the same?

Indiana Fever Edge Seattle Storm for Fifth Straight Win: 78–74

The Indiana Fever are heating up at just the right time. On Sunday, they notched their fifth consecutive victory, defeating the Seattle Storm 78–74 and improving to 17–12 on the season. With momentum building and the playoffs approaching, this Fever squad is showing grit, poise, and progress.

Balanced Attack from Howard and Cunningham

Natasha Howard led the way for Indiana with 21 points, while Sophie Cunningham added 17 on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night, including 4-for-4 from deep. The duo gave the Fever an early boost and never let go of the lead. At one point, Indiana was up by 13, asserting control despite Seattle’s late-game push.

Aaliyah Boston continued her strong presence in the post, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds—most of them coming during a critical fourth-quarter stretch. She also moved into fourth all-time in rebounds in Fever franchise history with 924, trailing only Ebony Hoffman, Erlana Larkins, and Tamika Catchings.

Mitchell’s Off Night, But Team Steps Up

While Kelsey Mitchell had an uncharacteristically cold shooting night (3-for-16 FG, 0-for-8 from three), she still contributed five assists. Aari McDonald came close to a double-double with nine points and nine assists. Even though she had two costly turnovers down the stretch, her playmaking was essential in keeping the offense afloat.

Defensive Grit & Game Flow

This game wasn’t pretty—it was a grind. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc: Indiana shot just 4-for-22 (18.2%), while Seattle went 2-for-15 (13.3%). It became a battle of who could make the right plays at the right time, and the Fever consistently answered the call.

The Fever finished the game shooting 47.8% from the field, outscoring the Storm in the paint 52–46. They also racked up 27 assists on their 32 made field goals—showcasing great ball movement and chemistry.

Key Stats:

Field Goal %: Fever 47.8% | Storm 44%

Three-Point %: Fever 18.2% | Storm 13.3%

Rebounds: Storm 33 | Fever 32

Assists: Fever 27 | Storm 20

Fast Break Points: Fever 15 | Storm 14

Bench Points: Fever 6 | Storm 10

Points in the Paint: Fever 52 | Storm 46

What’s Next?

The Fever now turn their attention to the LA Sparks, whom they’ll face on Tuesday night. With a sixth straight win within reach, Indiana is quickly emerging as one of the WNBA’s hottest teams. And there’s even more good news: star guard Caitlin Clark is reportedly nearing a return, having resumed running workouts for four to five consecutive days.

With confidence building, key players stepping up, and Caitlin Clark on the verge of coming back, the Fever are showing they can compete with anyone in the league.

Indiana Fever Win 4th Straight: Kelsey Mitchell Leads the Charge Over Dallas Wings

The Indiana Fever are officially rolling. With their commanding 88–78 win over the Dallas Wings, they’ve now won four straight games—continuing their late-season surge in the 2025 WNBA campaign.

Dominance from the Start

Although the game was tied 22–22 after the first quarter, the Fever took control in the second, outscoring Dallas 26–20 to lead at the half. By the third quarter, they had stretched their lead further, holding a 12-point advantage at one point. Dallas threatened late, cutting the deficit to six with just over five minutes left, but Indiana never lost their grip on the game.

Kelsey Mitchell Back in Form

After a quieter game against Phoenix, Kelsey Mitchell bounced back in a big way—dropping 23 points and leading the Fever’s scoring attack. Her performance set the tone early and helped keep the Wings on their heels.

Ari McDonald and the Bench Show Up

Aari McDonald followed up her 27-point game with another strong outing—15 points, 6 assists, and 4 threes made. Her energy continues to be a game-changer for Indiana.

The Fever bench was once again a difference-maker. After dropping 32 points against Phoenix, they added 21 more against Dallas. Players like Lexie Hull, Dantas, and Chloe Bibby (who scored 6 points in limited minutes and hit 2-of-3 from deep) have made an undeniable impact. Sydney Colson stayed hot from beyond the arc, continuing her red-hot shooting.

Dominating the Glass & Sharing the Ball

Indiana crushed Dallas on the boards, out-rebounding them 44–30. Natasha Howard was relentless, grabbing 16 rebounds to go with 11 points and 5 assists—helping Aaliyah Boston battle down low.

Speaking of Boston, she delivered a double-double of her own (12 points, 10 rebounds) and added 5 assists. Her leadership continues to show even when she starts games slowly.

Sophie Cunningham vs. Paige Bueckers

Sophie Cunningham was tasked with a tough defensive assignment, guarding rookie standout Paige Bueckers. While Bueckers got her buckets, Cunningham and the Fever defense made her work for every point—especially limiting her beyond the arc.

Key Stats:

FG%: Fever 45.2%, Wings 40%

3PT: Fever 12-of-28 (42.9%), Wings 2-of-15 (13%)

Rebounds: Fever 44, Wings 30

Assists: Fever 25, Wings 16

Turnovers: Fever 20, Wings 15

Looking Ahead: Can They Secure a Top-4 Seed?

With this win, the Fever are just a half-game out of the 4th or 5th seed. Upcoming matchups—including a pivotal road game at Seattle—could shape their playoff trajectory. If the Fever can stay hot, and if Caitlin Clark returns healthy, this team could be very dangerous come playoff time.

Final Thoughts

The Fever are showing identity, depth, and resilience. With the bench producing, stars shining, and chemistry improving, this is starting to look like a team no one wants to face.

Chloe Bibby’s emergence adds another layer of floor-spacing, and if she gets more minutes, it could open things up even more for the Fever offense.