Tag: Nyara Sabally

Liberty’s Nyara Sabally deserves her flowers for heroic WNBA Finals performance

A New York Liberty championship doesn’t happen without Nyara Sabally.

The New York Liberty would not have a championship without Nyara Sabally’s contributions, and I’m not even being dramatic.

A lot of what happens in the WNBA Finals is all about adjustments. It’s the unspoken thing that doesn’t get enough credit. For example, when Chelsey Gray and Kiah Stokes suffered injuries during the 2023 Finals, Becky Hammon threw out a starting lineup with few minutes together and a defensive scheme that neither the Aces nor Liberty had ever seen — and it worked. Another unspoken series-changing adjustment happened during Sunday’s Game 5, and it came with massive implications and a ring.

With their backs against the wall, Sandy Brondello went to her bench, throwing in Nyara Sabally. Before Sunday, Sabally averaged only nine minutes and three points per game during the Finals. However, her buckets were always timely leading up to the penultimate title game, and when the pressure was on, the 6-foot-5 center was DYNAMITE.

The former No. 5 overall pick played 17 minutes Sunday and dropped a career-high 13 points — nine of which came in the third quarter.

She also grabbed seven boards and secured a back-breaking steal on Napheesa Collier during overtime that ultimately helped shut the door on the Lynx.

Cheryl Reeve might think differently, but this was a coaching masterclass move by Sandy Brondello. Sometimes, you must do unconventional yet calculated things for a chance at postseason glory.

We aren’t talking about a Liberty championship without Brondello’s adjustment and Sabally’s unshakeable confidence on the league’s highest stage. Let’s give NYara — See what I did there? — her rightful flowers as the series’ unsung hero.

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How Nyara Sabally will fit with New York Liberty in 2023

The Liberty inked Nyara Sabally to a rookie scale contract, but will the 2022 fifth overall pick make New York’s crowded roster out of training camp?

The New York Liberty announced that former Oregon forward Nyara Sabally signed her rookie scale contract, securing the 2022 fifth overall pick a $71,300 salary for 2023 if she makes the final roster.

Sabally was drafted last year by New York with the knowledge that she might end up sitting for the entire year, and that ended up being the case as she took a job as an assistant coach at Sacramento State while rehabbing and preparing to make her WNBA debut in 2023.

Now Sabally is ready to go, but she faces a New York roster that was completely overhauled this offseason. Former Oregon teammate Sabrina Ionescu is still in tow, but she is now joined by former MVP Jonquel Jones, former Seattle Storm superstar Breanna Stewart, and point guard Courtney Vandersloot – forming an absolute superteam in the Big Apple.

Sabally will compete for backup post minutes behind Jones, although she will face stiff competition from Stef Dolson and Han Xu – who emerged as a dynamic bench threat last season for the Liberty.

Sabally absolutely has the skills as a passing big to play real minutes in New York, but the significant talent influx this offseason could also push the Liberty to try dealing Sabally if they don’t believe she will secure one of the few available roster spots when training camp gets going this spring.

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Sabrina Ionescu and New York Liberty eliminated from WNBA playoffs Tuesday

Former Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty were eliminated by the Chicago Sky in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

After a resounding victory in Game 1, Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty were dispatched in the next two games by the Chicago Sky, eliminating the former Oregon star from the playoffs.

New York was trailing by just three points early in the fourth quarter, and they looked primed to make a comeback and potentially eliminate the defending champions before Chicago went on a 22-7 run to close out the game, led by Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot.

Ionescu finished her final game of the season with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Ruthy Hebard advanced with the Sky, although she does not look like she will be part of the rotation much as the playoffs continue. She played 90 seconds in Chicago’s win over New York on Tuesday, going 0-1 from deep.

Nyara Sabally is also rostered by the Liberty, although a knee injury prevented her from suiting up as a rookie this season. She’ll add reinforcements to Ionescu’s squad as they look to make the playoffs again next season, and hopefully stave off early elimination.

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Former Oregon Ducks forward Nyara Sabally joins coaching staff at Sacramento State

Former Oregon Duck Nyara Sabally is joining the coaching staff at Sacramento State after a knee injury kept her out for the WNBA season.

Former Oregon Ducks forward and 2022 WNBA first round pick Nyara Sabally is joining the coaching staff at Sacramento State.

Sabally was selected fifth overall by the New York Liberty – Sabrina Ionescu’s current team – but she is unable to suit up this year because of a knee injury. So instead she will join Mark Campbell’s staff at least for this season.

Campbell was previously at Oregon under coach Kelly Graves, and he released a statement regarding Sabally’s addition to the Sac State program.

“We are thrilled to add Nyara to our program,” Campbell said. “She is like family to our entire coaching staff and will have a major impact working with our current players. She has had unique experiences of competing at the highest level of college and international basketball.”

Sabally averaged 15.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals last season with Oregon. Her sister Satou is an All-Star forward for the Dallas Wings.

“I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity to join the Sacramento State coaching staff,” Sabally said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside great coaches and mentors that I have looked up to the past few years. I can’t wait to get on campus and get to work.”

 

How Oregon alumni performed during first half of WNBA season

A look at how each of the four Oregon Ducks alumni performed during the first half of the 2022 WNBA season.

The 2022 WNBA season is at the artificial halfway point following last weekend’s All-Star Game festivities, which included a victory for Sabrina Ionescu in the skills challenge.

Ionescu has been far and away the most exciting Oregon Ducks alumni playing in the WNBA this season – and in fact she has been perhaps the most exciting player in the entire league.

Her first half included two triple-doubles and many other highlight reel performances, many which went viral on social media, and at 24 it is clear she is on her way to being the face of the league for years to come.

The season has not gone quite as well for Oregon’s three other alumni, mostly due to injuries for both the Sabally sisters and a decreased role for Chicago forward Ruthy Hebard.

Here is an overview of every Oregon alumni and how they did in the first half of the WNBA season:

How former Oregon Ducks performed in WNBA Week 6 action

A look at how Oregon Ducks alumni Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Ruthy Hebard performed the last week of June in the WNBA season.

We are almost exactly one week out from the WNBA All-Star Game festivities, which will take place in Chicago on July 10.

Former Oregon Ducks legend Sabrina Ionescu will be in attendance, representing the New York Liberty after a ridiculously strong start to the season – notably in the early part of June when she went on a torrid, record-breaking stretch.

While she’s cooled down in recent games, she remains one of the most fun to watch and all-around talented performers in the league, and should find herself playing in the midsummer classic for years to come.

She won’t be joined by any other Oregon alumni this year, with Satou Sabally nursing injuries and missing the early part of the year while still overseas. Sabally is healthy with Dallas now, however, and she provides a big boost to this Wings squad.

Ruthy Hebard remains in a reserve role for the defending champion Chicago Sky, while Nyara Sabally remains out for the year with an injury after going No. 6 overall in the 2022 WNBA draft.

Here is a look at how the last week has gone for each Duck in the WNBA:

A look at which Oregon stars are on rosters as WNBA season tips off

Four former Oregon Ducks will begin the season on WNBA rosters, although only three will suit up in game action this season.

The WNBA season tips off on Friday evening, as the Chicago Sky look to defend their surprise championship run from last season.

The WNBA has more eyes on it than ever before, in part because of the rising interest in women’s college basketball – which has fans clamoring to see how their favorite players perform at the next level.

Unfortunately limited roster spaces, the lack of minor league developmental league, and a small number of teams has created a situation where a large chunk of players drafted don’t end up sticking onto a roster once the season begins.

This has created many very loud calls for expansion by fans, players, former players, media analysts, and coaches as the league looks to capitalize on the growing interest.

For the Oregon Ducks, while the number could (should) be higher, they are going to be represented by four different athletes during the WNBA season – although only three are going to suit up this year.

Here is a look at those four athletes, what team they play for, and what their role might look like during the 2022 campaign:

Nyara Sabally to miss first WNBA season due to knee injury

Nyara Sabally’s knee issues are not quite behind her as she will have to sit out the 2022 WNBA season due to injury.

Nyara Sabally’s knee issues just won’t quit.

The New York Liberty of the WNBA announced that the No. 5 pick of the first round will miss the entire 2022 season and will be ready for the 2023 season.

Oregon fans, as well as Liberty fans. were eager to see the younger Sabally finally play with former Duck Sabrina Ionescu. But that reunion will have to wait.

New York Liberty general manager Johnathon Kolb said that they knew Sabally missing the season was a possibility when they picked her.

“We knew heading into the selection for Nyara that there’s a very strong chance she will not play this year because of her current health condition.” Kolb said.

That health condition is her right knee, which has been surgically repaired twice and she tweaked it towards the end of Oregon’s season. Even with a knee that wasn’t 100 percent, Sabally was named to the All-Pac-12 tourney team.

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Nyara Sabally reunites with Sabrina Ionescu in the Big Apple

The New York Liberty selected their second Duck in three years as they pick Nyara Sabally at No. 5 in the WNBA draft.

The WNBA better be ready for another Sabally.

Oregon’s power forward Nyara Sabally was picked in the first round of the WNBA draft at No. 5 by the New York Liberty and will join Duck legend Sabrina Ionescu in hopes of bringing a championship to the Big Apple. Sabally also joins her older sister Satou in the league and is the fourth Duck women’s basketball player in the last three seasons to be drafted high in the first round.

Nyara Sabally averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds a game in her two seasons playing for Oregon. She ended her college career on a high note as she was an all-conference player in both seasons and made the Pac-12 all-tournament team in 2022.

In 2021, the Liberty finished 12-20, but still made the postseason where they are bounced out of the first round by the eventual runner-up Phoenix Mercury. New York will also have a Sandy Brondello as its new head coach.

Sabally, Ionescu and the rest of the Liberty will begin their WNBA season May 7 when they host Connecticut.

Nyara Sabally says goodbye to Oregon and declares for WNBA draft

Nyara Sabally declares for the WNBA draft after a stellar career in Eugene playing for the Ducks.

Nyara Sabally came to Oregon in the hopes of playing with her sister Satou and win a national championship.

Although neither came to fruition due to several knee injuries, Nyara was able to carve out her own little piece of Duck history for her very own.

The younger Sabally overcame those injuries and played the last two seasons with the Ducks where she averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. She also an all-conference player in both seasons and made the Pac-12 all-tournament team in 2022.

In her first season, Sabally averaged 13 points and 7.3 rebounds a game where the Ducks advanced all the way to the Sweet 16.

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