NEW YORK — Satou Sabally will retire indefinitely from the New York Liberty, coach Chris DeMarco said Thursday before the game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sabally has been sidelined since June 23, suffering her second concussion in just over eight months after being hit in the head and face by Las Vegas Aces forward Nalyssa Smith. She suffered her first concussion after colliding with Aces defenseman Kierstana Bell last October while playing for the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
On the team’s injury report, Sabally was listed as in the concussion protocol for nearly seven weeks, but her designation was changed Wednesday to a head injury. DeMarco did not give a timeline for her return.
“This is under the leadership of our performance team,” DeMarco said. “Just for now, she’s taking some time off and making sure she’s healthy.”
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DeMarco did not specify whether Sabally will participate in any basketball-related activities. Although Sabally cleared the concussion protocol, she still struggles with concussion-related symptoms.
“She did a good job,” DeMarco said of Sabally’s extended absence. “She’s got the right people around her. We’re really looking forward to getting her back, and she’s going to be back, and she’s going to play at an elite level again.”
The Liberty signed Sabally to a two-year, $1.67 million contract. She is limited to 13 games this season.
DeMarco deployed 13 starting lineups. The expected starting five of Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, Sabally, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones played just two games together due to injuries.
“Definitely more difficult than in years past, for sure, because we didn’t have a new system, a new coach, as much news and some key new pieces (as we have now),” Ionescu said of the instability of this season’s rotation. “Satou is a big piece for us … it’s hard to try to build chemistry when people come out and come in.”
Fiebich has been sidelined with a left foot injury since July 3. DeMarco said Fiebich is on the mend, but could not give an exact date for her return. Fiebich is expected to play for the German national team from August 31 to September 16 at the FIBA World Championship, and DeMarco also did not rule out Fiebich for the Liberty’s remaining five games ahead of the WNBA’s tournament break.
The Liberty entered the season with championship expectations, but have struggled to maintain their place in the top echelon of the league this season. New York was tied for seventh in the league standings, and the Dallas Wings played the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.