This season has simply been the hardest for Satou Sabally. The German national has been one of the WNBA’s leading frontcourt players for a few years now, but her seventh season came to a stop with a concussion, which has also hindered her from fulfilling her obligation to her national team. On Wednesday, the New York Liberty star revealed the sad news to her German basketball fans.
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“Dear basketball community in Germany. It’s incredibly hard for me to share that I won’t be able to be part of the World Cup in Berlin. Competing at the World Cup at home, in front of you, my family, and with this team is something I’ve worked toward for years,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
“Right now I have to listen to my body, put my health first, and prioritize my full recovery. I feel your support for all these years, and I’m so grateful for it. I’m incredibly proud of this team, and I’ll be with you all in spirit, cheering from afar.
With Love, Satou.”
Sabally has been out with a concussion since June. During the June 23 game vs. Las Vegas, Sabally was struck in the head by NaLyssa Smith in the first quarter. She did try to return in the second quarter, but it was short-lived.
Sabally’s announcement comes shortly after the Liberty announced that she was taking some time away from the game. It was reported that Sabally had cleared the concussion protocol, but the Liberty forward was still dealing with symptoms related to it.
“This is under the guidance of our performance team,” Liberty coach Chris DeMarco told reporters after the win over the Sparks on August 13, per CBS Sports. “Just for now, she’s taking some time away and making sure she’s healthy… As with all our players, health will always be the focus. We look forward to getting her back. She’s just going to take some time right now.”
This isn’t the first time that Sabally has taken a hit on the head. In fact, this is the second major concussion the New York Liberty forward has suffered in the last eight months. Previously, during the 2025 WNBA Finals game against the Las Vegas Aces. She took an awkward fall and hit her head on Kierstan Bell’s leg. Sabally never played again in the series after exiting that game.
Due to the lingering issues related to the concussion, Sabally wasn’t able to participate in the Unrivaled earlier this year.
At this point, prioritizing her health makes sense for the Liberty star, who has mostly been unhealthy in her career. Sabally has played more than 30 games in only two seasons of her career. She has dealt with Achilles, knee, ankle, and now twice head injuries.
Berlin is set to host the FIBA World Cup from Sept. 4-13. Sabally’s Liberty teammate, Leonie Fiebich, is also her teammate on the national team. Fiebich will play for the German national team.