The Phoenix Mercury played tough basketball throughout the 2025 WNBA Season, proving the doubters wrong and reaching the WNBA finals for the first time since 2021. But the finals series against the Aces is proving to be their most formidable challenge yet, and now, with injury to Satou Sabally, things got even worse.
DeWanna Bonner admitted the Mercury’s playoff comebacks can’t keep up with the Aces in the WNBA finals, and now, in the absence of the 27-year-old forward, the veteran forward might have to enter the court as a starter.
Satou Sabally To Miss Game 4
The All-Star forward played a crucial role in the Mercury’s hard-fought victories so far, impacting the games on both ends of the floor. She was at her best in Game 3 also, pushing for the first win of the series. But the former Oregon player took a nasty hit midway into the game after Jackie Young’s arm hooked into Sabally’s arm as she was jumping for a loose ball. The forward face fell into Kierstan Bell’s knee, and her neck was twisted as she was taken off the court.
Coach Nate Tibbetts said in his postgame news conference that he couldn’t meet the injured star, as Sabally wasn’t there when he went to the locker room postgame. Now, as per the latest updates, they will miss the ‘must-win’ Game 4 in the WNBA finals.
As per the rule book, a player under concussion protocol cannot return to participation for at least 48 hours, including the date of diagnosis or until she completes the required procedure for the return.
Mercury forward Satou Sabally has been diagnosed with a concussion and has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces. pic.twitter.com/9eD10EoeSJ
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) October 9, 2025
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
With her absence, Nate Tibbetts will have bigger issues in Game 4. Tibbetts blamed the officiating for the loss in Game 3 and the ‘change in defensive play’ for the loss in Game 1, but the reality of the ‘thin’ roster struck the Phoenix Mercury, with the Aces taking advantage of their depth and quality on the floor. Now with Sabally out of the equation for game 4, A’ja Wilson and Co. might well lift the trophy at the PHX arena on October 10.
As for the player, she was an offensive star for the Mercury team against the Aces, averaging 21.7 points in the finals series. But she was not only active on the floor, but also made strong statements off the floor.
Satou Sabally’s Aggressive Stand On CBA Negotiations
While the star might not be present on the court for Game 4, she was active in the off-court matters, especially on the CBA negotiation talks. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is confident of getting a solution for the issue before October 31. Sabally clapped back at Adam Silver’s “too personal” comment on WNBA-CBA negotiations. Going forward, she even demanded high wages for the rookies.
“I know the league came, but with like 300 [thousand]. Push it up. Push it up. Go up, especially if you want to extend the season [schedule]. And now we’re talking about extending the season, you need to go up with these numbers because, honestly, that’s what they deserve right now,” Sabally said in the interview during training sessions.
The rookie salary increase will also directly impact veteran salaries and the WNBA’s salary cap model. The next meeting for the discussion will be sooner, with the WNBA finals series nearing its end and the deadline for the previous CBA deal also approaching.