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New York Liberty forward Satou Sabally is in concussion protocol.
Sabally was initially listed as questionable on the WNBA's injury report the morning of Thursday, June 25 after exiting the Liberty's 87-76 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday early. But Sabally's status was downgraded to out by Thursday afternoon ahead of the Liberty's road matchup against the Seattle Storm.
Breanna Stewart (rest) will also be sidelined Thursday against the Storm.
Sabally was elbowed in the face by Aces forward NaLyssa Smith while competing for a rebound attempt with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter as the Liberty led 10-7. Sabally, who was called for a loose ball foul on the play, fell to the ground, removed her glasses and rubbed her head before getting to her feet under her own power.
"She just got hit in the face. She'll be all right," Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco said after the Liberty's win over the Aces, which served as a teaser for the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship on Tuesday, June 30.
More: Liberty vs. Aces, again: WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final brings rivalry back
Sabally was subbed out of the game and headed to the bench after taking the shot the face. She returned to action to start the second quarter and played for nearly four minutes — racking up two rebounds and one block — before checking back out. Sabally didn't return to the floor after halftime and was ruled out in the third.
She was held scoreless in eight minutes (0-of-3 FG, 0-of-3 3PT), finishing with three rebounds and one assist.
DeMarco initially said Sabally wasn't entering concussion protocol on Tuesday after suffering the contact to the face, but that changed by Thursday afternoon once she exhibited concussion symptoms.
It's not clear when Sabally will return to the lineup or whether she will clear the league's multi-step concussion protocol before the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship next week.
Sabally has a history of concussions. She suffered a concussion in Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals while competing for the Phoenix Mercury after her head made contact with Aces forward Kierstan Bell's knee while trying to corral an offensive rebound. The injury ended Sabally's season and she missed the second season of Unrivaled while dealing with lingering symptoms from the concussion.
Sabally, the versatile 6-foot-4 forward known as "The Unicorn," made a splash in free agency by signing with the Liberty in the offseason. But the three-time All-Star has been limited to 13 games this season.
Sabally didn't participate in the Liberty's two preseason games due to reconditioning. She missed the first four games of the season due to a cyst, delaying her highly-anticipated debut for the Liberty until May 21. She was also sidelined on May 27 in the Liberty's 84-74 win over the Phoenix Mercury due to an illness.
She's averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 13 games (five starts), while shooting 45.9% from the field and 38.5% from the 3-point line.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Satou Sabally injury report: Liberty forward in concussion protocol
Continue reading...
Sabally was initially listed as questionable on the WNBA's injury report the morning of Thursday, June 25 after exiting the Liberty's 87-76 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday early. But Sabally's status was downgraded to out by Thursday afternoon ahead of the Liberty's road matchup against the Seattle Storm.
Breanna Stewart (rest) will also be sidelined Thursday against the Storm.
Sabally was elbowed in the face by Aces forward NaLyssa Smith while competing for a rebound attempt with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter as the Liberty led 10-7. Sabally, who was called for a loose ball foul on the play, fell to the ground, removed her glasses and rubbed her head before getting to her feet under her own power.
"She just got hit in the face. She'll be all right," Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco said after the Liberty's win over the Aces, which served as a teaser for the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship on Tuesday, June 30.
More: Liberty vs. Aces, again: WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final brings rivalry back
Sabally was subbed out of the game and headed to the bench after taking the shot the face. She returned to action to start the second quarter and played for nearly four minutes — racking up two rebounds and one block — before checking back out. Sabally didn't return to the floor after halftime and was ruled out in the third.
She was held scoreless in eight minutes (0-of-3 FG, 0-of-3 3PT), finishing with three rebounds and one assist.
DeMarco initially said Sabally wasn't entering concussion protocol on Tuesday after suffering the contact to the face, but that changed by Thursday afternoon once she exhibited concussion symptoms.
It's not clear when Sabally will return to the lineup or whether she will clear the league's multi-step concussion protocol before the 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship next week.
Satou Sabally injury timeline
Sabally has a history of concussions. She suffered a concussion in Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals while competing for the Phoenix Mercury after her head made contact with Aces forward Kierstan Bell's knee while trying to corral an offensive rebound. The injury ended Sabally's season and she missed the second season of Unrivaled while dealing with lingering symptoms from the concussion.
Sabally, the versatile 6-foot-4 forward known as "The Unicorn," made a splash in free agency by signing with the Liberty in the offseason. But the three-time All-Star has been limited to 13 games this season.
Sabally didn't participate in the Liberty's two preseason games due to reconditioning. She missed the first four games of the season due to a cyst, delaying her highly-anticipated debut for the Liberty until May 21. She was also sidelined on May 27 in the Liberty's 84-74 win over the Phoenix Mercury due to an illness.
She's averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 13 games (five starts), while shooting 45.9% from the field and 38.5% from the 3-point line.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Satou Sabally injury report: Liberty forward in concussion protocol
Continue reading...
