Aaliyah

Edwards

Griner had her most productive scoring outing since she was moved to the bench on August 10 after she missed a few games after dealing with a neck injury. With head coach Karl Smesko wanting to not play his starters too many heavy minutes just days before the playoffs begin, Griner got more of an extended opportunity. Also, the matchup against the Sun is advantageous for Griner in particular when she matches up against a smaller center in the Sun’s Tina Charles. Griner shot 63.6 percent from the field, mostly by getting great position on Charles, and then later in the game, Griner outmuscled the even smaller power forward Aaliayh Edwards, who was defending Griner. Griner also made WNBA history on Wednesday night, passing Swin Cash for 16th on the league’s all time rebounding list with 2,522 career boards.

Mabrey finished her 2025 season with her second most efficient shooting performance of the year. She shot 53.3 percent from the field, her highest percentage since May 30 when she shot 58.8 percent from the field against the Fever. Mabrey scored 20 points in the Sun’s season finale, and it was the ninth time of the season Mabrey scored at least 20 points during a game. She struck a balance between scoring the basketball off the ball and then creating offense on the ball. Half of her made shots came on assists and the other four did not. Mabrey facilitated the basketball well also, tying Saniya Rivers for the most assists by a Sun player on Wednesday. She passed the ball to four different teammates including Rivers, Tina Charles, Aaliyah Edwards and Aneesah Morrow.

Nelson-Ododa will miss her sixth straight game and the final game of the season for her team while dealing with a back injury. In her place the Sun have turned to more minutes from second year forward Aaliyah Edwards and 6'0 French wing Mamignan Touré. In the Sun’s previous game also against the Dream, stretch four Haley Peters also played in extended minutes.

Copper wasn’t efficient scoring the basketball on Saturday afternoon but she scored in bunches, something her team struggled to do against the Sun. She scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half mostly on drives down the lane instead of settling for perimeter shots. Copper’s speed and rim pressure was too much for solid defenders Saniya Rivers and Aaliiyah Edwards, who tried to interrupt Copper’s drives the best they could. Copper also got to the free throw line four times in that second half.

Mabrey and Tina Charles carried the scoring load like usual for the Sun, but when Charles had trouble scoring the basketball in the third quarter, Mabrey stepped up notching 8 points, an assist and two steals in the third that helped the Sun get back into the game when they were down, including a steal that resulted in a score on the other end. Points were hard to come by in that third quarter for both teams and Mabrey pushed the ball in transition and exploited the Mercury’s weaker defenders in the process. Mabrey also distributed the basketball well for the Sun. She found Charles once in the first half and then made some pivotal passes to Aaliyah Edwards, Saniya Rivers and Charles for scores in the final two quarters while the Sun were down by as many as 7 points.

After being listed as questionable going into Saturday afternoon’s game against the Mercury, rookie forward Morrow has been upgraded to available. Although Sun head coach Rachid Meziane noted during a pregame press conference that Morrow would be on a minutes restriction. Even with Morrow starting and playing, Aaliyah Edwards will get significant run off the bench and Haley Peters will get more minutes than usual.

Morrow left the Sun’s Wednesday game against the Sky after she collided with Sky guard Kia Nurse late in the first quarter. If Morrow is ruled out, expect Aaliyah Edwards to log meaningful minutes in addition to potentially starting for the first time this season. Since the Sun’s depth in the front court will be thin assuming both Morrow and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (back) are out on Saturday, stretch four Haley Peters should see some more minutes coming off the bench.

While Nelson-Ododa has been upgraded from out to doubtful, it’s likely she’ll miss her fourth straight game. Without Nelson-Ododa and potentially Aneesah Morrow (chest) available, the Sun may turn to Aaliyah Edwards. Edwards could pick up the start, her first of the season and as a member of the Sun. Stretch big Haley Peters could also see more meaningful minutes at the power forward position especially if Morrow isn’t available.

It was “Tina Charles Bobblehead Day” at the Sun game on Monday, and the veteran center gave the home fans another quality showing. She recorded her 14th 20-point game of the season and played 36 of a possible 40 minutes. Charles’ consistent playing time is good news for fantasy managers who have her rostered, as the veteran’s minutes have not been sacrificed in favor of Connecticut’s younger frontcourt players. Rayah Marshall only played three minutes on Monday, while fellow rookie Aneesah Morrow (6/5/1/1/1) played 20 and Aaliyah Edwards (4/4/1/0/2) logged 21.

Nelson-Ododa will miss a second straight game with a back injury, leaving the Sun shorthanded in the frontcourt. While her absence does not impact Connecticut’s starting lineup, it does mean Aaliyah Edwards will play more minutes off the bench. She played 21 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Lynx.