Marina Mabrey says she was in a 'flow state' on her 53-PT night 😮‍💨 | NBA Today

>> It's time for inside the game powered by AWS.

Gravity quantifies how much a player pulls defenders towards them above expected essentially measuring

how much attention a player draws compared to what the spacing on the floor

predicts and the leader is Toronto Tempo's Marina Mabrey who was in the number

one spot well before last night's 53-point performance.

Fresh off her record-tying 53-point game

and it's so great to have Toronto's Marina Mabrey on NBA Today.

Congratulations.

Can you describe the zone you were in last night?

What did it feel like from your perspective?

>> Thank you.

Um I think it was just like a flow state

and my teammates kind of helped me like go into it

and just keep it going.

Um my coach was encouraging me.

I was even encouraging me.

>> >> Um and honestly I think the basket just got huge after a while.

>> I mean your coach uh Sandy Brondello said she was going to let

you try to set a new record

but you chose to come out of the game.

Yeah, what was that decision like?

>> Yeah.

Um I mean obviously like number one thing is that we're winning.

Um I'm playing a lot of minutes.

Obviously it was a record-breaking night.

We tried a couple times to get get it for me

but I wasn't able to capitalize on a few

so I think at

that point you kind of just celebrate what you were able to accomplish

and kind of not be too greedy.

>> Hey, uh speaking of celebrating, we loved the celebration in the locker room.

Uh if you could take us through that, that was a lot of fun.

>> Yeah.

Uh yeah.

>> >> Yeah, this was crazy.

Um so yeah, they they poured water on me when I first got in,

so I was like we were laughing cuz I was like I'm like a

wet rat.

Um so then we you know,

we had to we had to get the towel

and the hat to kind of help me look a little bit better,

but just my teammates celebrating me and um just dancing and having fun,

like that was the part that I'll remember the most about the game.

Obviously the making shots

and dominating our opponent is something

that I love to do

as a competitor,

but those special moments where the whole team is involved,

the whole team is really happy,

and everyone got to have a piece of

that um is something

that kind of means the most to me like in my leadership journey.

>> And not just your team, but I understand your sister was there,

and we have someone here whose sister was also there.

>> Raina, Raina, we're going to forget about the fact

that you did this on my sister's team

because you were huge.

What did it mean to celebrate this moment with Mykaila?

>> Um I mean I I said in the media last night like she

was my first competition ever like I was always trying to beat her in

the driveway.

I I I we would always joke around like I'm sitting in class in

fifth grade like how can I beat her?

Um and she just challenged me in ways

that no one else can growing up in life,

and I think like having her sideline was just

so full circle because she believes in me

and she knows what I was capable of um for all of these years

just kind of waiting to shine my light waiting my time.

So to do it in front of her was like you know,

she's like my hero, so obviously.

>> That feeling is very relatable.

Coming off of back-to-back games, seeing what my sister did,

and then seeing you do it because I consider you a sister,

I'm just so happy for you, Marina.

You know this.

We've been through the trenches, okay?

But I want to talk about your game

because you've just taken your game to a whole 'nother level.

You've always had that killer instinct.

What did you do particularly in the off-season knowing

that you had a big opportunity with Toronto

that allowed you to capitalize on this moment?

>> Yeah, I mean I was disappointed with last season.

Like I said, I just didn't have a good year in any facet honestly

and I think that it took for

that to happen for me to kind of really re-evaluate what I needed to

be doing.

So I've been working with someone on energy leadership and kind of, you know,

I bring a lot of energy to the game

but how can we channel it to be something that's always positive

or mostly positive rather than always towing

that line.

So redirecting my energy has been a really big part of my off-season.

>> Raina, I know you're out, you know,

you're cute on social media and you're so friendly.

I know you said energy, we know you play with fire.

I'm curious, your phone had to have blown up yesterday, okay?

Your phone had to blow up.

Did you get any messages that you're like, oh, oh?

>> Um, I mean I appreciate the support from the Raptors

and all the Toronto people.

Like they that was cool to get the acknowledgement of like a new winning

scene in the city

and getting the acknowledgement from the men,

that's something that's big for me.

But honestly, I think it was the acknowledgement, like I kept saying,

I think more than anything it was the acknowledgement from my teammates.

Like they truly had fun last night

and usually when someone kind of goes off like

that,

it's like a one-man kind of enjoyment thing,

but they were truly having fun finding me, being a part of it,

celebrating me.

The texts I got from them after, my coaches,

like the people closest to me.

And then also just like my mom.

My mom's texts to me was like Yeah,

so I'm sad my dad missed it,

but he still had a good message for me.

So those were the messages honestly that meant the most to me.

>> I know they were going crazy.

I know her whole family.

>> Yeah, my my siblings were like, you're sick.

Like there's something really wrong with you.

>> >> Um, what about the All-Star?

Are you never been an All-Star?

I mean, you have been the face of this franchise, this expansion team.

You're having the season of your life.

Do you feel like you've earned that honor this season?

>> Yeah, I do.

I think I've earned that honor, but um, like I said,

obviously it's something that's out of your control.

You always hope to be that because, you know,

the little girl in you always wanted to be something like that,

but I think like it's so much more about the validation within.

Um, and I think this year I've really given myself a chance to shine

my fullest light.

>> I'm all for that.

I'm all for that.

>> I know.

I know.

And by the way, another great Notre Dame guard.

We need to call it guard you.

We really do.

Um, so >> >> thanks for making our alma mater proud.

So proud of you.

Thanks.

Yeah, wishing you a great rest of the season.

>> >> Everyone's been talking about this this week.

News out of Indiana.

Caitlin Clark's not going to play in tomorrow's game against the Sparks.

Wednesday against the Mercury,

we saw Alyssa Thomas making contact with her fist to Clark's throat.

No foul called at the time.

Yesterday the league reviewed it, deemed it a flagrant two,

suspended Thomas for tomorrow's game against Toronto.

Clark left that game in the third after aggravating her back injury on this

three-point attempt in the first half.

Now we've learned she won't be playing against the Sparks

and here's her head coach,

Stephanie White.

>> >> I just think that again, we want her to be healthy, physically, mentally, emotionally,

all the things.

And you know, I think it's important to remember again,

when you've gone through injury

and the and the the the the traumatic aspect of injury,

especially that she had last year, it's it's it's it's ups and downs,

you know, physically, mentally, emotionally,

and making sure that she's 100% ready to go um,

is the most important thing.

And and her taking care of that is is uh is priority for us.

>> It's something they're going to have to manage all season.

Also managing the officiating.

We've seen White and other coaches come out

and say our stars need to be better protected

as they retooled the officiating.

What are your thoughts in that regard?

>> Well, I've had many conversations with league officials, with referees one-on-one,

and just personnel in the WNBA and players,

and they all agree that there is an issue with officiating.

But, I think I think it's important for people to know

that we are seeing a shift in the WNBA through officiating

because with rapid growth,

right, comes growing pains.

Meaning, they're calling more fouls than ever before

because they want to increase freedom of movement.

They want to protect landing space.

We saw that, you know, on that play, that sequence for Caitlin Clark.

And when you do initiate a lot of calls like we've seen the the

standard be the start of the season,

when you don't, it raises red flags, right?

And that's what coaches speak to.

So, I think overall, I mean, the optics of this were just really difficult,

and that's why you saw the WNBA use their power

and ability to be able to impose,

you know, a fine

or a suspension on a non-call due to a hostile act

because they don't like the optics of what it is,

no matter what happened in the game flow.

So, I do think that hopefully at All-Star break,

I think it'll be important for the commissioner to address what she believes are

important key areas of emphasis for officiating

so that this doesn't continue to be like a lightning rod issue.

>> Yeah, that's the biggest thing.

I think players all across the board, not just in the W,

but all other aspects of sport, there's one consistency, right?

Regardless of who it is or how it's be be consistent.

If you're going to call this against them, call it, you know,

against us the same manner.

So, if they can find ways

that what are the issues are

and find ways to fix them,

get a solution, that'll make all leagues better.

>> Of course, this is coming off a task force, right?

Of players and coaches and officials in a major overhaul.

So, you know, we're working it out.

Lots more to talk about.

Cheryl and I will be with you sometime in Sunday for this weekend's Women's

Sports Sunday.