May 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nSabally was the Mercury\u2019s leading scorer during her lone season in Phoenix, averaging 16.3 points per game. She increased her scoring output in the postseason to 19 points per game before suffering a concussion Oct. 8 during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.<\/p>\n
She had to be helped off the court and back to the locker room by teammate Kalani Brown and a member of the Mercury\u2019s security staff, spending that night in the hospital before being released to recover at home. She was ruled out for Game 4 of the finals and dealt with lingering effects, including missing the Unrivaled season during the offseason. At the time, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts expressed confidence in the Mercury\u2019s handling of Sabally\u2019s concussion. He reiterated that sentiment Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Sabally said her concussion \u201cprobably\u201d had an impact on her time in Phoenix, but she later clarified that she believes the Mercury appropriately managed her concussion and it wasn\u2019t the reason she left the team.<\/p>\n
Sabally\u2019s addition to the Liberty was intended to add another elite scoring threat to an already explosive offensive juggernaut anchored by two-time MVP Breanna Stewart. She has logged minutes in three of the Liberty\u2019s first eight regular-season games. Her first four scratches were due to a cyst. She made her Liberty debut last Thursday against the Golden State Valkyries, finishing with 5 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes.<\/p>\n
She recorded a 20-point game against the Dallas Wings on Sunday. In the Liberty\u2019s game the next night against the Portland Fire, she played just four minutes before heading back to the locker room in the first quarter with an \u201cillness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said Sabally\u2019s absence is unrelated to the concussion she sustained last year. He added she is questionable for Friday\u2019s game against the Mercury.<\/p>\n
The Mercury acquired Sabally in a blockbuster trade in 2025 that, in the end, included four teams. The deal resulted in the Mercury sending Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen to the Connecticut Sun, the rights to Kiki Herbert Harrigan and the 12th pick in the 2025 draft to the Dallas Wings, and Sophie Cunningham and the 19th pick in the 2025 draft to the Indiana Fever.<\/p>\n
In addition to Sabally, the Mercury acquired Brown and six-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas. But a year later, the sense from Sabally and the Mercury was that their pairing was no longer working.<\/p>\n
Despite Sabally\u2019s production, Mercury general manager Nick U\u2019Ren opted not to core her, making Sabally an unrestricted free agent, which she said was \u201crelatively\u201d surprising. \u201cBut I also know that they wanted to keep their options open,\u201d she said. The conversations she had with U\u2019Ren and Tibbetts during free agency were \u201crespectful.\u201d<\/p>\n
The core designation is similar to the NFL\u2019s franchise tag. It comes with a one-year fully guaranteed supermax qualifying offer, giving a franchise exclusive negotiating power over a player. The team and player can negotiate terms of the contract. The tag can also be used to sign-and-trade the player, preventing the team from losing a free agent without any return.<\/p>\n
Thomas said the Mercury\u2019s big three \u2014 herself, Sabally and Kahleah Copper \u2014 had a hard time having discussions about running it back without a CBA in place. \u201cMost of our efforts were into the CBA,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cAnd yeah, that\u2019s what we talked about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a choice, we have a choice,\u201d Tibbetts said Tuesday after practice at a basketball facility on the Lower East Side. \u201cHard decisions have to be made, and it was in a condensed time frame. She\u2019s hopefully happy with her decision, and we\u2019re happy with where we\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither the Mercury nor the Liberty are in a good position early in the season. Both teams have been hampered by injuries and late arrivals to key players compounding the typical challenges associated with developing cohesion among new groups.<\/p>\n
Phoenix was 14th in league standings entering Wednesday\u2019s game against the Liberty \u2014 just less than eight months removed from the trip to the finals.<\/p>\n
The biggest hurdle the Mercury have faced in replacing Sabally is her scoring ability, Tibbetts said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s one of the elite scorers in our league,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cSo just that immediate threat. I think we have it collectively. We talked about that, but again, the injuries, people coming in late, we haven\u2019t found our rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was true again Wednesday night as the Mercury\u2019s lack of connectivity was on full display. In the third quarter, their offense broke down under a steady hammering from the Liberty\u2019s full-court press. New York ended the third quarter on a 23-0 run, outscoring the Mercury 30-12 in the frame.<\/p>\n
Marine Johannes led all scorers with 21 points. Jonquel Jones had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Stewart finished with 11 points. The Mercury\u2019s loss dropped them to 2-6. The Liberty improved their record to 4-4.<\/p>\n
Both teams are missing Sabally\u2019s contributions. The Mercury are missing her production, but the Liberty are missing what they could be with her.<\/p>\n