New York Liberty forward Satou Sabally will be stepping away from the team for an indefinite period to focus on her recovery from a concussion.
Sabally's decision is fully supported by her coaches and teammates, who emphasize that her health is the priority. "It’s really mature and a step in the right direction for her to understand where she’s at and what she needs to do to feel 100 percent and feel like herself," said teammate Sabrina Ionescu.
Sabally's injury designation was updated to "head injury" on Wednesday after being listed in "concussion protocol" for the past seven weeks. While she has cleared the protocol, she has not yet reached full health.
"She’s going to be away from the team for a little bit," coach Chris DeMarco stated. "It’s her second significant head injury in the past 12 months. So, as with all our players, health will always be the focus, and we look forward to getting her back. She’s just going to take some time right now."
DeMarco indicated that Sabally will not be engaged in basketball-related activities during her time away, emphasizing that the decision is guided by the performance team and that she is simply taking time to ensure her health.
Sabally sustained the recent head injury on June 23 during the Liberty's game against the Las Vegas Aces, when she was elbowed in the face by Aces forward NaLyssa Smith. She had previously suffered a concussion in Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, which sidelined her for most of the offseason and delayed her return to basketball activities until March.
Despite clearing concussion protocol, DeMarco noted that Sabally is not yet back in her "comfort zone." He reiterated the team's commitment to not rushing players back, stating, "We’re not trying to rush anybody back, and it’s always going to be about the health of our players."
Sabally, a marquee free agent acquisition for the Liberty this offseason, has also dealt with a cyst that caused her to miss the start of the season and an illness in late May. She has played in 13 games this season, starting five, and is averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
Ionescu, who experienced a significant ankle injury in her rookie season, expressed empathy for Sabally's situation. "You can sympathize with somebody who’s just trying to come back from not feeling like themselves," Ionescu said. "For us as teammates, that’s kind of our job to give her the safe space to not put any pressure but understand the human being comes first and the athlete comes second."
DeMarco expressed confidence in Sabally's eventual return this season and addressed the challenges athletes face with injuries. "It’s so hard and sometimes I think fans, people [who] watch this game, are like, ‘Oh, you know, get over it. You’re making money.’ Or, ‘You’re doing this.’ Or, ‘It’s only for this long.’ It’s not easy. I mean, we all go through stuff and I think she’s doing a great job of handling this the right way. And I mean, the head especially is always such a concern. You have to be in the right mindset to go out there and compete and that’s what she’s working toward."