Marina Mabrey (21 pts) leads Sun to season sweep of Mystics

Marina Mabrey came off the bench to lead the visiting Connecticut Sun with 21 points in their 96-85 victory Saturday over the Washington Mystics.

The Sun (23-8) swept the season four-game season series from the Mystics (9-23) and have won nine consecutive games against Washington dating back to 2022.

Mabrey added six rebounds and five assists, while DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and DeWanna Bonner and Tyasha Harris each had 16 for Connecticut.

Ariel Atkins led the Mystics with 15 points, while Stefanie Dolson added 14 points and seven rebounds and Emily Engstler finished with 12 points.

Both teams made 14 3-pointers and 30 field goals overall. The Sun converted all 22 of their free throw attempts, while the Mystics finished 11-for-15. Connecticut also had a 26-18 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Sun did not trail after going on a 13-2 run and taking an 18-9 lead with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.

Atkins made all four of her field-goal attempts, including two from 3-point range, during her 10-point second quarter that left Washington within 45-42 at halftime.

After the game was tied at 45 with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter, the Sun went on an 11-0 run behind three 3-pointers by Mabrey to build a 56-45 lead. Mabrey finished with 14 points in the third quarter.

Connecticut later engineered an 11-2 run to build an 82-62 lead with 8:53 remaining in the game. Harris and Veronica Burton each made a 3-pointer in that run.

Washington used a 15-2 surge to pull within 86-79 with 5:37 remaining but could not cut into the lead further.

A layup by Jones gave the Sun a 92-79 lead with 2:52 left.

Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas suffered a leg injury in the first quarter after colliding with the Mystics' Karlie Samuelson while going for a loose ball.

Thomas was helped to the locker room and did not return. She tallied a rebound and an assist in 6:55 of action.

--Field Level Media