New York Liberty forward Satou Sabally will not return for the remainder of the WNBA season as she continues to manage the effects of her second concussion in under a year, the team announced Thursday.
Sabally has been sidelined since suffering a concussion on June 23 in Las Vegas. After spending seven weeks in concussion protocol, she was cleared by league guidelines but still not at full strength. The team subsequently changed her injury designation to “head injury.”
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco announced on Aug. 13 that Sabally would be stepping away from the team indefinitely. "We’re not trying to rush anybody back, and it’s always going to be about the health of our players," DeMarco stated.
A week prior to the team's announcement, Sabally shared on Instagram that she would not represent Germany in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. "Right now, I have to listen to my body, put my health first and prioritize my full recovery," she wrote. "I feel your support for all these years and I’m so grateful for it."
Sabally, who also experienced a concussion during Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals that impacted her offseason, was the Liberty's most significant offseason acquisition. In her first season of a two-year, $1.67 million contract, she played in 13 games, averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
DeMarco mentioned last week that he checks in with Sabally frequently and believes she is "doing well mentally."
The Liberty are currently on a break for the World Cup and are scheduled to resume play on Sept. 18 in Minnesota with a 24-16 record.