Marina Mabrey, the Toronto Tempo guard, has finally achieved an all-star game appearance, eight years into her WNBA career. This recognition marks the culmination of a journey defined by perseverance, as Mabrey was named an all-star reserve yesterday.
The 29-year-old guard had 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the Toronto Tempo’s 83-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. For Mabrey, reaching the all-star game had been a personal goal since she was a teenager.
A Career Forged Through Challenge
Mabrey reflected on her early aspirations, stating, “When I was in high school I was like, ‘I want to be in the WNBA and I want to be a WNBA all-star.’ I had no idea how hard it was, but it’s OK, it was cute.” She described the league as intensely demanding, involving constant play, practice, and accountability.
The six-foot-one shooting guard acknowledged the challenges of moving between teams and adapting to different teammates. Despite these hurdles, Mabrey maintained her belief, asserting, “I just think that it’s easy to lose that vision and that belief in yourself, but I don’t think I ever lost it.”
Her path in the WNBA began in the second round of the 2019 draft, where she was taken 19th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks. Following a season in L.A., she played for the Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Connecticut Sun.
Mabrey then joined Toronto, taken sixth overall by the Tempo in the expansion draft.
Reaching Career-Best Form
Mabrey’s current season statistics underscore her impressive form, averaging 21.1 points, 3.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game heading into Wednesday’s match. Her points average represents a career-high, with her other statistical categories also above her career averages.
As the 19th overall pick in her draft class, Mabrey acknowledged that her longevity and all-star status defy expectations. She stated, “I wasn’t supposed to be on a team, wasn’t supposed to be playing, wasn’t supposed to be starting, I wasn’t supposed to be an all-star.”
She offered an encouraging message to aspiring players, emphasising that draft position and circumstances are not definitive. Mabrey advised, “Hopefully any players out there watching that want to be great, it doesn’t matter where you’re drafted, it doesn’t matter what your situation is, if you continue to work hard and believe in yourself and get a little bit lucky here and there, it can still work out for you.”
Parental Influence and Preparation
The guard attributes some of her career longevity to lessons learned from her parents, Patti and Roy Mabrey, both of whom were competitive triathletes. They instilled in her the importance of a holistic approach to fitness and well-being.
“They talked to me about, stretching, sleeping, eating, putting the work in and continuing to make sure that you figure out what works for your body and how you can be a great athlete,” Mabrey explained. Her parents also taught her about managing the mental aspect of high-level sport, including work-life balance and time management.
Mabrey faces an immediate challenge in the lead-up to the WNBA All-Star Game on July 25, with her backcourt partner Brittney Sykes sidelined. Sykes has missed seven games and counting due to left plantar fascia.