Just as quickly as he tries to form his rotation, Chris DeMarco will need to make room for one more.
Satou Sabally has made her debut with the New York Liberty and joins a core that features some of the WNBA’s very best players.
The 2023 All-WNBA First Team selection came to New York on a two year deal worth just over $1.5 million dollars.
The rather speedy nature of this off-season’s free agency makes the move one of the larger ones in recent free agency history. Like a firework in the night sky, a seismic move as such warrants a rather sizy motivation to shift the balance of power in such a manner.
“It’s always been a dream…I really just wanted to come home and join a championship culture.”
Greeted by the many children of the Brooklyn area with posters and warm introductions, Sabally first spoke to the media on April 17 to explain the diligence of the Liberty in correspondence to the new collective bargaining agreement.
“Fulfilling minimum standards, and really catering to your
players and having great player relationships,” Sabally said. “The Liberty have really been on the forefront…on supplying what we, as athletes, need.”
Sabally had an impressive 2025 season as she averaged 16/6/3 for the Phoenix Mercury. The star wing notched her third all-star appearance and helped guide Phoenix to their first Finals appearance since 2021.
The arrival of the marquee star in New York gives Chris DeMarco another invaluable element to his brand of play. When asked about his level of excitement heading into training camp, the new head coach noted that he was, “thrilled. I’ve been here since January and I had a lot to do. Had a lot to learn…just figuring out what the roster would look like.”
When speaking on Satou’s specific influence on his positive experience in New York, DeMarco described Sabally as “Phenomenal. You guys just got to talk to her; she’s smart. If we’re talking on the court, her versatility…she’s got a dog to her that I absolutely love. She’s gonna fight, and just her personality and what she brings off the court is really important to us too.”
Sabally’s debut was much reason for encouragement as well, regardless of the final boxscore. While Satou was only able to muster up a line of 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in a tough loss to the Valkyries, the star forward showcased the immense skillset she brings to DeMarco’s rotation, scoring versatility, rebounding, and playmaking included.
“It’s hard…she hasn’t played,” DeMarco said after Satou’s debut. “We knew there’d be an integration period…Her body is there, and we know what she can bring.”
Jonquel Jones echoed her coach’s sentiment, stating that Sabally “played aggressively…I think she had quality shots. For someone who hasn’t played in a long time, I think she played well.”
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the then-defending champion Liberty found themselves finishing with a record of 27-17. It was good enough for a fifth seed standing. However, it wasn’t good enough to defend their title as they were eliminated in three games by the Mercury. May it be the fault of injuries, roster cohesion, or simply off-play, the 2025 season can reasonably be viewed as a let-down for the team and New York faithful.
However, more star power is NEVER a bad thing. Sabally joining a roster of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones should sort through the ebbs and flows of a season on the road to greener pastures.