Dallas Wings star Satou Sabally confirmed she won’t re-sign with the workforce in free company this winter. “I’ve already performed my final recreation in Dallas,” Sabally stated throughout her media availability session forward of the inaugural Unequalled season.
This information doesn’t come as a significant shock, as Sabally is an unrestricted free agent and hinted at leaving the Wings earlier this offseason. “It is a number of motion for me this offseason,” Sabally said in a video posted to TikTok again in October. “The choice of transferring with a doubtlessly totally different shoe model, but additionally the choice to vary groups.”
Sabally informed reporters on Thursday she is “working with [the Wings] collectively to search out the following residence for me.” This implies the Wings will use the “Core participant” designation on Sabally as a way to acquire unique negotiating rights together with her as soon as free company begins. That means, the Wings can work on a sign-and-trade to ship Sabally to her most well-liked vacation spot and guarantee they do not lose her for nothing.
The previous No. 2 general decide, Sabally is one of the top free agents on the board regardless of her in depth harm historical past. Since coming into the league in 2020, she has but to achieve the 100-game mark and has made 17 or fewer appearances in 4 of her 5 seasons.
Her expertise shouldn’t be in query, although, and when wholesome she has confirmed to be among the finest, most versatile forwards within the league. In her lone full season in 2023, she put up 18.6 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 36.1% from 3-point vary and led the Wings to their first playoff collection win since 2009, once they have been nonetheless primarily based in Detroit. For her efforts, Sabally gained Most Improved Participant, made the All-Star Sport, earned First Staff All-WNBA honors and completed fifth in MVP voting.
Sabally was unable to comply with up on that marketing campaign final summer season after she underwent shoulder surgical procedure within the offseason. She was restricted to fifteen video games, and by the point she got here again after the Olympics the Wings have been 6-19. Issues didn’t get any higher from there. Regardless that the Wings cleaned home after the season and gained the No. 1 decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, it is clear Sabally is prepared for a brand new problem with a workforce that is able to compete proper now.
The reigning champion New York Liberty stand out as a possible possibility as a result of that is the place Sabally’s sister, Nyara, performs. Nonetheless, New York’s frontcourt may get a bit crowded with Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones already in place. The up-and-coming Indiana Fever, in the meantime, can be an ideal match for all events. Indiana wants assist in the frontcourt and has a ready-made commerce piece in NaLyssa Smith.
For now, although, we’ll simply have to attend. Groups can start making qualifying presents and core participant designations for their very own gamers as quickly as Saturday, however can’t focus on phrases with free brokers till Jan. 21.