WNBA Free agency didn’t bring much surprise, as franchise players chose to stay with their teams, and front offices also managed to maintain their core through a mix of offers, aligning with the new CBA deal. Yet one move that surprised many was Satou Sabally joining the New York Liberty after reaching the 2025 finals with the Phoenix Mercury.
The forward played a key role in defeating the Mercury team in the 2025 postseason and now joins forces with Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu to form a strong team.
Satou Sabally Talks About Reasons For Joining the New York Liberty
The Phoenix Mercury trio was a juggernaut in the 2025 season, where the side balanced the offense and defense well between its forward lineup. Apart from the finals sweep, the side demonstrated its strength by bulldozing the 2024 finalists, New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, in the postseason.
So when asked about the reason to join the East Coast team, Sabally said, “Join my friends. Really, truly join my friends and people, and get closer to home. I know the time difference, so I could only talk to my little brother before practice at 6:00 am. After 2 pm, it’s over.I know the time difference, I could only talk to my little brother before practice at 6:00 am. After 2 pm, it’s over.”
Why Sabally chose a team that she and the Mercury defeated on the playoffs last year:#WNBA pic.twitter.com/KfQ9zsFFyr
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) April 17, 2026
Speaking about her home in Germany, where her family resides, the player cut the time difference by three hours, allowing her more family time now.
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While closer to home is one of the reasons she joined the Liberty franchise, her addition certainly made the team stronger, ranking among the top five starting lineups in the 2026 season. The player, though, has a bigger aim with the team too.
Satou Sabally Wants to Win a Championship With New York
It’s interesting that the former Wings’ star joined the franchise when her younger sister moved to Toronto in the expansion draft. But she still has some connections in NY, as people in the franchise speak highly about her.
Looking to follow her steps, Sabally said, “The way that people talk about Nyara just makes me so proud. I’m continuing a legacy here. She started it and I’m just continuing something my little sister started. She won a championship, she won a ring for the city and I wanted to follow her footsteps.”
Despite having a stronger game and more experience, Satou has yet to win a championship, and joining the Liberty team might fulfill her dream too.