WNBA Trade Rumors: Angel Reese playfully shuts down ex-Chicago Sky teammate’s exit during Unrivaled scrimmage

Angel Reese directly asked former teammate Marina Mabrey whether she left the Chicago Sky because of her. Reese landed at Wintrust Arena as the No. 7 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, but her presence might have been a problem for some people.

For months, rumors and speculation suggested Mabrey's exit from the Sky and arrival in Connecticut in August was connected to Reese. The forward tried to make an instant impact on the team, and she did so to some extent, especially with the attention her team got upon her arrival.

A video shared on Sunday shows Reese and Mabrey having fun in the Unrivaled training room while Reese addressed the elephant in the room.

"Money Mabrey, we have a conspiracy," Reese started. "People wanna know. ... Marina, did you leave Chicago because of me?"

"No. I love Angel," Mabrey responded while making a heart with her hands.

Angel Reese tried to make another heart with their two hands, but they couldn't, which led the rookie to tell Mabrey to twerk.

Marina Mabrey opened up on her decision to call it a time with the Chicago Sky in a July 19 article from WNBA reporter Annie Costabile. She talked about her desire to play for former Sky coach James Wade and how she felt once the coach was fired and replaced with Teresa Weatherspoon.

“I came to play for James Wade, the system he had built and the vision he saw for me," Mabrey said. "I don’t like to jump ship. S,o, he left and then I thought, ‘OK, let’s see what happens.’”

What happened next was a trade to the Connecticut Sun, where she had the chance to compete for a spot in the 2024 WNBA Finals, but the Minnesota Lynx ruined their plans. Meanwhile, the Sky missed out on the playoff after a series of losses down the stretch (affected by Reese's wrist fracture in September).

Angel Reese set to lose four teammates during free agency

Annie Costabile reported that the Chicago Sky is preparing to start next season without four players from the 2024 roster. According to Costabile, Chennedy Carter, a restricted free agent, won't be offered an extension, while unrestricted free agents Diamond DeShields, Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner are expected to sign with another team.

They need to build the team around Angel Reese, and this offseason could be a solid start.

Contrary to what many people thought, Reese and Mabrey are cool with each other.