Satou Sabally joins elite Liberty squad with championship in mind

The former Oregon star signs two-year deal to play alongside Ionescu, Stewart and Jones in New York

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:56am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, bright orange, and metallic gold, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Satou Sabally's arrival in New York adds another superstar to the Liberty's championship-caliber roster, setting the stage for a thrilling WNBA season.NYC Today

Satou Sabally, the former Oregon standout, has signed a two-year deal with the New York Liberty, joining a superteam that includes Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. Sabally, who was born in New York and whose sister Nyara previously played for the Liberty, says she took a discount to join the team because she wants to win a championship, something that's missing from her résumé.

Why it matters

The Liberty are now title favorites after adding Sabally to their already stacked roster, and anything less than a championship will be viewed as a disappointment. Sabally's decision to join the Liberty also continues a family legacy, as her sister Nyara previously played for the team.

The details

Sabally, who spent the first part of her WNBA career with the Dallas Wings, signed a two-year deal with the Liberty worth a total of $1.67 million. She cited several reasons for joining the team, including her desire to be on the East Coast, her love for New York City, and the Liberty's high standards and focus on player needs - something she didn't have early in her career. Sabally also has 'unfinished business' with Ionescu after the two couldn't bring a national title to Oregon, and she feels the Liberty give her the best shot at winning a championship.

  • Sabally signed a two-year deal with the Liberty on April 17, 2026.
  • The WNBA regular season is set to tip off just a few weeks from now after a rapid-fire training camp and preseason.

The players

Satou Sabally

A former standout at the University of Oregon who has signed a two-year deal with the New York Liberty, joining a superteam that includes Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.

Nyara Sabally

Satou's sister, who previously played for the New York Liberty and won a championship with the team.

Sabrina Ionescu

A star player for the New York Liberty who Satou Sabally has 'unfinished business' with after the two couldn't bring a national title to Oregon.

Breanna Stewart

A superstar player who Satou Sabally is excited to play alongside on the Liberty.

Jonquel Jones

Another star player who joins Sabally, Ionescu and Stewart on the Liberty's superteam.

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What they’re saying

“'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.'”

— Satou Sabally

“'I would love to win with [Ionescu]. It's been such a long time since Oregon but that is something we still talk about. I love playing alongside Stewie, so that was a good decision for me playing-wise too. I've never played with her but she's just such a force. Really having other people around me.'”

— Satou Sabally

“'I know I can be a superstar and single myself out on a different team and get that $1.2 or $1.4 [million]. But what I really wanted to do is win a championship. I think that is missing on my résumé.'”

— Satou Sabally

What’s next

The Liberty will have a rapid-fire training camp and preseason before the WNBA regular season tips off in just a few weeks, leaving coach Chris DeMarco with the challenge of quickly integrating Sabally into the team's championship-caliber roster.

The takeaway

Satou Sabally's decision to join the New York Liberty on a discounted two-year deal shows her singular focus on winning a championship, something that has eluded her so far in her WNBA career. By joining a superteam that includes Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, Sabally is putting herself in the best position to finally capture that elusive title.