If you’ve been watching the WNBA this season (and if you haven’t, what are you doing?), then you’ve probably noticed something cool happening in Connecticut: Marina Mabrey, queen of the side-eye and savage one-liners, is smiling. Like, a lot.
Enter: Rookie Saniya Rivers.
At first glance, Saniya’s got all the rookie energy, bouncing around like she drank three iced coffees and did a TikTok dance before tip-off. But behind the scenes? She’s breaking through Mabrey’s hard-as-nails exterior and turning her into the team’s undercover softie.
Let’s be real. Marina’s always been a boss. She’s a competitive player with no-nonsense vibes. But even vets get stuck in their zone, and sometimes, what they need is someone fresh and fearless to get them out of it. That someone is Saniya Rivers.
The two have developed a close bond despite being an unexpected duo. Rivers is an extrovert with endless energy, which has helped Mabrey lean into her fun side. Saniya brings the kind of joy that reminds everyone why they started playing ball in the first place, because it’s fun.
Young players across the league are breathing new life into their teams, bringing dance moves and slang that the veterans can’t keep up with, along with enough Gen Z energy to power the scoreboard. In return, the veterans offer wisdom. It’s the ultimate team-up.
So yeah, Saniya Rivers is reminding Marina Mabrey (and the rest of us) that it’s okay to laugh, to loosen up, and to let the rookies teach you a thing or two.
After all, the game’s better when you’re having fun.
