The WNBA consistently delivered excitement and provided a new storyline each season. Even though the ultimate goal of every season remains the same—the championship—the journey brings much more excitement. In 2025, the rise of the Phoenix Mercury sparked a rivalry between two sisters, Satou Sabally and Nyara Sabally.
In the postseason, Satou Sabally embraced the underdog role, mentioning that the disrespect fueled them. For her sister, the Liberty were defending champions and favorites for the title. But now that the season is over, they opened up on the rivalry.
Satou Sabally and Nyara Sabally React To Their Bond During WNBA Rivalry
During regular-season games, both players had different roles in their respective franchises. The Liberty forward got some rest and played in the critical games. For the Mercury star, Satou Sabally returned to All-Star form to help the side reach the postseason and push for the championship.
While they faced each other during the opening series, in the offseason, both opened up on their ‘sisterly bond’ during the playoff rivalry. Satou Sabally said, “I think, now, it was all more so enjoying the moment and really being excited for each other. But this is the first time this is actually pretty serious, so we’re like, ‘Okay, well, are we going to talk about what happens afterwards about the different scenarios?”
The Sabally sisters face off 🇩🇪
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 19, 2025
German siblings Satou and Nyara arrive side by side in Brooklyn before their first season matchup against each other!
Mercury-Liberty | Prime | 7pm/ET pic.twitter.com/Z1HlNF9lzr
“You give the other person probably a little space after,” Nyara added. “There’s no bad blood or anything … you might be upset a little about the situation afterwards, but it’s nothing. We’ll still probably hang out after the game.”
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The Mercury won the series in three games with Satou’s starring performance in game 3. Amid their rivalry, what’s exciting is a combined recognition as the duo won a prestigious award for their performances in the 2025 season.
Satou Sabally and Nyara Sabally Win Glamour’s Women Of The Year 2025
As part of its annual awards, Glamour magazine chose the Sabally sisters as winners for the year 2025. The Woman of the Year awards honor “extraordinary and inspirational” women from a variety of fields, and now, with the rise of the WNBA, the hoopers are also gaining more attention.
After representing Germany at the 2024 Olympics, the Sabally sisters went back to wearing separate jerseys in the States. Glamour caught up with the siblings right before their first “serious” face-off in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. https://t.co/l1QGbesVbM
— Glamour (@glamourmag) October 27, 2025
The 27-year-old forward had a productive season, averaging 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game, with these numbers increasing during the postseason. Satou Sabally was out for WNBA Finals Game 4 due to a concussion, which impacted the team’s chances of winning.
As for the Liberty star, she played in just 17 games and struggled with the injury. But while she was on the court, the former champion was one of the best young forwards for the side. Lexie Hull, Napheesa Collier, and Jonquel Jones were other winners of the accolade.