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Due to lingering symptoms from the concussion she suffered in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals with the Phoenix Mercury, Satou Sabally, a member of Phantom BC, is expected to be sidelined indefinitely for the second season of Unrivaled, the league announced on Friday afternoon.
The news of Sabally’s status is extremely concerning, first and foremost for her as person. The concussion occurred on Oct. 8, meaning, over two months later, she is still dealing with its effects.
Late in Game 3, a defender kneed Sabally in the head as she fell to the floor during a chase for a rebound. After staying on the court for a significant amount of time, Sabally attempted to get up, but appeared unsteady and was eased back to the court. She eventually walked to the locker room with the assistance of a Mercury staff member and teammate.
That a stretcher was not used as a precautionary measure to transport Sabally back to the locker room sparked widespread criticism, as the intensity of the head-to-knee contact and her subsequently shaky status seemed to warrant a higher degree of care and caution. The fact that Sabally is still experiencing some of the ill effects of the incident makes the immediate handling of her injury even more alarming. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts, however, defended the medical staff’s process.
Sabally, who missed Game 4 of the Finals, shared a brief update about her recovery approximately a month after the concussion, posting the caption, “Update…more and more each day. Patience goes a long way. #recovery this was so chaotic, just a little overhwhelmed.”
Sabally, it seems, will have to continue to practice patience. Hopefully, she will make her return to the during the Unrivaled season, as she has not yet been ruled out for the entire season and will be reevaluated at a later date.
Sabally was protected by Phantom in the distribution of players for the upcoming Unrivaled season, suggesting she was slated to serve as the star for the club coached by Roneeka Hodges.
Tiffany Hayes, who played for Laces BC last season but initially elected to play in EuroLeague Women over Unrivaled in 2026, will now be a member of Phantom. Hayes joins a squad that features Natasha Cloud, Dana Evans, Aliyah Boston, Kiki Iriafen and Kelsey Plum.
