Sky acquires Marina Mabrey in 4-team trade
The Chicago Sky continue to build their roster for the 2023 season with the acquisition of Dallas Wings guard Marina Mabrey in a 4-team trade, the team announced on Saturday. The Sky will also receive Phoenix’s 2024 second round draft pick.
Here’s how the trade pans out:
Chicago receives:
Marina Mabrey (from Dallas — Sign-and-Trade)
2024 2nd Round Pick (from Phoenix)
New York receives:
Rights to Leonie Fiebich (from Chicago)
2024 2nd Round Pick (from Chicago)
Rights to swap 2025 1st Round Picks (with Phoenix)
Phoenix receives:
Michaela Onyenwere (from New York)
2024 3rd Round Pick (from Chicago)
2025 2nd Round Pick (from Chicago)
Dallas receives:
Diamond DeShields (from Phoenix)
2023 1st Round Pick (from Chicago)
2024 1st Round Pick (from Chicago)
Rights to swap 2025 1st Round Picks (with Chicago)
General manager and head coach James Wade released a statement saying, “Adding a player such as Marina who can play both guard positions, is a talented sharpshooter and gives her all every single game will all be vital for our team this year. We are looking forward to having her as a big addition to our roster.”
Wade’s analysis hits the nose on the head, and her stats support the statement. In 2022, she averaged 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 13.6 points while shooting 35.1% from the 3-point line. Mabrey provides the extra depth needed at guard, rounding out the total to four with Courtney Williams, Kahleah Copper and Dana Evans.
Wade’s free agency moves have pointed towards adding speed, and the addition of Mabrey does just that. She’s a fast guard who has a wide shooting range, making her another outlet option for the free-flying offense the Sky love to run. Mabrey can also be a facilitator for Copper, Williams and others, giving the Sky offense more flexibility in regards to lineups.
Mabrey’s chemistry with the team is already established. She’s currently on Team USA with Copper and Wade.
— Kahleah Copper (@kahleahcopper) February 11, 2023
She also plays overseas for the Italian club Schio with new Sky teammate Astou Ndour-Fall. Currently, she’s averaging 18.9 points while shooting 49.4% from the arc. Her Euroleague numbers are fairly similar with an average of 13.7 points on 36.7% from the 3-point line.
Outside of just statistics, the guard trio of Copper, Williams and Mabrey is a high-energy combination. All three have physicality, speed, court vision to allow for higher assist numbers and long-range scoring ability.
This brings the roster up to nine. Joining Mabrey are Ndour-Fall, Copper, Evans, Williams, Isabelle Harrison, Elizabeth Williams, Ruthy Hebard, and Li Yeuru.