ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 11: Satou Sabally #0 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings on September 11, 2025 at the College Park Center in Arlington, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a stunner, the New York Liberty have shaken up the WNBA landscape … again.
On April 11, Alexa Phillippou, Kendra Andrews, and Shams Charania reported that Satou Sabally is signing with the New York Liberty
Sabally went on social media to confirm the news…
The 6’4” 27-year-old joins a Liberty team that is reloading following a disappointing 2025. The team moved on from Sandy Brondello and is now led by first year head coach Chris DeMarco. The Big 3 of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu are all set to return to be joined by Sabally.
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In other words, Clara Wu and Joe Tsai along with GM Jonathan Kolb have announced to the world of women’s basketball that it’s championship or bust in New York.
in 2025, Sabally was instrumental in helping the Phoenix Mercury defeat the Libs in the first round of the playoffs. She played well in the Finals before a concussion in game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces ended her season and subsequently, her time in Phoenix.
The Liberty will be bringing in a forward that has worked to expand her game in recent seasons. Satou’s 3-point attempts have steadily risen over time and is someone that has to be respected from deep. In a new offense that will be placing an emphasis on space and versatility surrounded by elite offensive players, Sabally will certainly have plenty of room to work with when she has the ball in her hands.
Sabally joins a Liberty frontcourt that was besieged by injuries and poor rebounding in 2025. After finishing top two in rebounding in 2023 and 2024, New York fell all the way to tenth in rebounding in 2025. A healthy Jones and Stewart should help solve that problem. Sabally has been one of the better rebounding forwards in the WNBA and has finished top 23 in rebounds in all but one of her seasons in the WNBA.
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With Sabally on board, the team will be able to add more length to the lineup by moving Leonie Fiebich to the shooting guard position and Ionescu to the point guard role on a full time basis. The projected starting five should be incredibly versatile and pose matchup nightmares for any team playing against them.
What this acquisition means for the rest of the roster remains to be seen. Following the selection of Satou’s Nyara Sabally by the Toronto Tempo in the expansion draft, the Liberty quickly replaced her by bringing highly touted 6’3” Spanish prospect Raquel Carrera to the team on a training camp contract. Jones, it was also reported Saturday, will resign with the Libs.
Natasha Cloud is a free agent and has expressed interest in remaining in New York. Will it be possible considering this move? Already, the team has signaled that Marine Johannes and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, out all of last season, will return
The New York native will also reunite with Sabrina Ionescu. The two were potentially on their way to an NCAA championship at Oregon in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic interfered. Sabally is also a member of the German national team. Her mother is German, her father Gambian.
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The Liberty have spoken at length about being one of the best franchises in sports, men’s or women’s. Consistently competing for titles will help make that a reality. Sabally is chasing her first title, and being in New York should help her go a long way in helping her reach that goal.
