Satou Sabally’s move to the New York Liberty is already creating a stir in the hoops community, and to be exact, it’s far from the hardwood. Sabally’s move to the Liberty is as high-profile as you would see, given the franchise looks to add to its Big Three prowess with Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones. But after a recent revelation on Sabally’s contract, the hoops community is taking a major step back against this association as they reassess the hype.
ESPN Insider Alexa Philippou recently confirmed the contract details of Sabally’s association with the Liberty. “Satou Sabally’s signing with the New York Liberty is official, per the team. Her deal is for two years, $815,000 for 2026 and $855,750 (a 5% raise) for 2027, fully guaranteed, per source,” the post read.
Of course, the amount is fairly less than what her sources expect her to earn. But the ‘guaranteed’ term here does have a special significance in Philippou’s post. It’s important to note that Sabally’s salary won’t be affected by any trade, injury, or even if she’s cut from the franchise. It’s a kind of stability across her stretch in this team.
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Furthermore, the amount is nearly a fourfold increase from the rough $250,000 she was earning last season. It was quite certain with a new CBA in place. In addition to this amount, Sabally will receive a substantial sum under the revenue-sharing clause. From a financial perspective, it’s a great improvement for Sabally as she tips off a new journey with the Liberty.
But fans are still hesitant to buy into these contract details, as they feel Sabally deserves much more financial remuneration, given the skill set she brings to the table, especially after her stellar season last year with the Phoenix Mercury, where she helped them reach the WNBA finals, averaging north of 16 in points in the regular season and over 19 in the postseason.
Role Player Comparisons and a Sentiment of an Ironic Move Revolves Around Satou Sabally’s Contract Details
“Something is not adding up here, especially for one of the leaders that was advocating for higher pay,” a fan wrote.
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The comment sits quite appropriately. Sabally has been one of the most vocal advocates for a better pay grade since last season. “[But] obviously we want better pay. We’ll **** heads a little bit here and there, but we want to work together,” Sabally had said in 2025. Thus, it was quite certain that when the opportunity came after a new CBA, Sabally would aim for a lucrative million-dollar deal.
But as the details of her contract with the Liberty surface, the salary is nowhere near the figure. In fact, the hit of her salary on the total cap has narrowed down to 11.64% from 14.27% last year ($215,000 in a $1.5M cap), making her stance for better pay quite ironic in a way.
“lol. i am so against this. max players should be making the max. i am already against taking a small paycut but to take this large of a paycut is disappointing to say the least,” commented another.
With her experience and the numbers she has produced over the years (15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across her career), Satou Sabally was considered one of the inevitable candidates for that supermax contract. The 27-year-old could have easily landed that figure on any other team with better negotiations, but in the New York Liberty, the supermax was always going to be difficult.
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It’s very important to understand Liberty’s salary cap dynamics here. The roster already includes superstars like Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones, and all of these players can demand a supermax salary on their own. Ionescu was already given a core qualifying offer by the franchise, meaning that she’s guaranteed to receive that figure.
Sep 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally (0) reacts between plays in the first half against the New York Liberty during game one of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs round one at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images
Stewart and Jones’ salaries aren’t known yet, but given their stature, the team would, of course, want to give them substantial pay to recognize their contributions. Thus, with all these hits on the cap, giving Sabally an additional $600K on top of the approximate $800K she is slated to earn would be doomsday for the team, considering they still have to adjust around 8 players on their main roster.
“Meanwhile, random role players are getting million-dollar per year deals 😭😭😭,” remarked another.
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This fan’s perspective is again true in this regard. For instance, off the bench players like Lexie Hull and Natisha Hiedeman will earn around $750K in the coming season. On the other hand, a full-fledged starter like Sabally will cost just $100K more. It’s, of course, surprising and unjustified in a way. But for Sabally, it seems that she’s looking to chase something bigger than a big bag of cash.
“Satou taking significantly less that what she should to ring chase in the prime of her career. This is not a unicorn,” stated another.
Having played for two top teams like the Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury, Sabally has carved out a successful career, including three WNBA All-Star appearances. The only thing missing from her arsenal is the coveted WNBA trophy. And what’s better than to give yourself an opportunity to do that by playing on a star-studded team?
The 27-year-old has expressed her aspiration to go to any extent to help the team win a Championship. “The winning culture here is unmatched, and I am fully ready to contribute from day one. I can’t wait to get to work, connect with the fans and community, reunite with familiar faces, and do whatever it takes to help bring this city another WNBA title,” Sabally had said. But even in this aspiration, there will be caveats for Sabally and the NY Liberty.
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“Getting paid less, and still losing to A’ja in this upcoming finals,” chimed in another.
It’s very important to understand that the Liberty ain’t the only Avengers roster this season. The Las Vegas Aces, led by A’ja Wilson, who beat Satou Sabally with the Phoenix Mercury last season, have emerged as a top-tier candidate again after the teams have taken shape amid this free agency window. With their trio of Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Lloyd on top of that, the Aces are looking like a team to reckon with in the 2026 season.
Thus, Liberty will, of course, present its own case with the likes of Sabally and Stewart. Both teams look stacked on paper. But it will eventually come down to momentum and injuries when these two top teams meet in the regular season and possibly in the playoffs.
With the season set to tip-off in a couple of weeks, how excited are you to see Satou Sabally in the New York Liberty? Do let us know in the comments.
