Angel Reese went direct with Marina Mabrey.
The pair are gearing up to play in the upcoming Unrivaled league and Reese took the opportunity to ask Mabrey about her Chicago Sky exit.
The Unrivaled League is set to kick-off this week and players are settling into their multi-million dollar venue that will host the tournament.
The league, co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, invested heavily into shared facilities for the players which includes a state of the art gym and recovery area.
It means the six teams made up of 36 WNBA players have plenty of time to bond and interact with each other ahead of their 9-week tournament.
Reese and Mabrey, who will play for Phantom and Rose basketball teams in the competition, were in the gym together and took the opportunity to clear up rumors about a rift.
Mabrey left the Chicago Sky mid-season last year and speculation arose that she left because of issues with Reese.
The 28-year-old went on to join the Connecticut Sun in July and claimed she wanted to play for a team that can win championships.
The Chicago Sky did not reach the WNBA playoffs last-season, falling out of contention and losing Reese to a season-ending injury.
On Instagram Live, Reese called over Mabrey to shut down the rumours once and for all.
“‘Money Mabrey, I have a conspiracy. People want to know. Marina, did you leave Chicago because of me?’ Reese said.
Laughing, Mabrey quickly shot down the speculation. “No. I love Angel. The real ones know.”
Rumours of a rift sparked when Mabrey and Reese faced off back in August, both sets of players exchanged hugs and farewells following their game but the pair kept their distance and did not interact.
Although Mabrey has praised Reese since, saying: “Angel’s personality is great. She’s always having fun. She’s kind of contagious with her energy.”
The 28-year-old made it clear at the time that it was organisational issues that forced her request a trade.
Mabrey also claimed that a desire to play for former Sky coach James Wade was a main factor in her decision to leave.
“I came to play for James Wade, the system he had built and the vision he saw for me,” Mabrey told the Chicago Sun-Times in July.
Mabre and Reese will face-off in Unrivaled which begins this Sunday, the pair have their first game scheduled against each other on January 31.
