When Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally have been in school, the Oregon teammates used to speak about what it might be wish to play collectively on the skilled stage.
Up till this level, with each locked into the groups that chosen them No. 1 and a couple of total within the 2020 draft, these conversations have been largely wishful pondering.
However that dream of teaming up as professionals will quickly be coming true — at the very least in a single skilled setting and maybe one other.
Ionescu and Sabally have been reunited as teammates on the Phantom and can make their debut subsequent week in Miami at Unequalled.
“It’s wonderful,” Sabally mentioned Thursday of enjoying with Ionescu once more. “She’s an amazing particular person, and what we’ve at all times revered of one another is that work ethic, and I do know she’s going to convey that in.”
However may this be the beginning of a yearlong reunion for the 2 former Oregon stars?
It’s not out of the realm of risk after Sabally dropped a bombshell Thursday throughout Unequalled’s media availability.
Sabally, an unrestricted free agent, mentioned she’ll be transferring on from the Dallas Wings after 5 seasons.
“I’ve already communicated with Dallas how grateful I’m as a result of they’ve made this a house for me the previous years, and I’m working with them collectively and discovering a subsequent dwelling for me,” Sabally mentioned. “I’ve already performed my final recreation in Dallas.”
Let the Sabally Sweepstakes start.
Given the scenario, the Wings will seemingly use their core designation on Sabally, which might enable Dallas to orchestrate a sign-and-trade to be able to get some return on the 6-foot-4 ahead who’s been labeled a “unicorn” since her school days.
There will probably be loads of competitors for Sabally. And the defending champion Liberty must be one of many groups that make a play for the star.
Sabally would make any crew higher, given her size and versatile ability set. However spending a premium on a participant with an intensive damage historical past like Sabally does include some threat.
Since being drafted, Sabally has performed greater than 20 video games in a season solely as soon as in 5 years. Final season, she was restricted to fifteen video games as a result of she had a shoulder damage and represented Germany on the 2024 Paris Video games.
For the Liberty, although, Sabally could be definitely worth the gamble. When obtainable, Sabally is among the many league’s elite gamers.
Final season, she averaged 17.9 factors, 6.4 rebounds and 5 assists. She shot 42.6 p.c from the sector and 45.2 from deep whereas averaging 5.6 3-point makes an attempt per recreation.
What may give New York an edge in negotiations for Sabally is the truth that along with the Ionescu connection, she already has a number of ties to the Liberty.
She was born in New York Metropolis, and her youthful sister, Nyara, has performed with the Liberty since they drafted her No. 5 total in 2022.
Final month, Nyara mentioned the potential for a Sabally sister reunion, saying it might be a dream come true for his or her mom.
“Clearly I’d love for her to come back play with me,” the youthful Sabally mentioned. “However that’s a choice she’ll make for herself.”
Satou Sabally mentioned Thursday that she was open to the potential for enjoying along with her sister in New York.
“Yeah, after all. Sooner or later, I’d love that,” Sabally mentioned.
Simply hours earlier than Sabally declared her time in Dallas is finished, Wings normal supervisor Curt Miller mentioned the franchise’s future throughout an introductory information convention for the crew’s new head coach Chris Koclanes.
“We’re attempting to construct one thing that out of the gates is foundational and sustainable,” Miller mentioned.
To get a deal carried out, it might seemingly require Breanna Stewart to as soon as once more re-sign at a reduced charge like she did final season. The Liberty would additionally should bundle a take care of at the very least one participant and draft picks.
If Sabally is the prize, then the Liberty may look to maneuver Leonie Fiebich or Marine Johannès — two gamers who Miller may construct round together with the Wings’ No. 1 total decide this 12 months, which is anticipated to be Connecticut star Paige Bueckers.
In return, Sabally would bolster the Liberty’s possibilities at profitable back-to-back titles earlier than the WNBA experiences a league reset throughout free company in 2026.
Sabally is “excited” concerning the prospects that await her in free company. Maybe Unequalled is the most effective place for her to be as she navigates this subsequent part of her profession.
“I’m in a position to discuss to numerous gamers exterior the Wings as a result of I’ve not performed on a unique crew but, and I’m excited to get to know them extra on a private stage,” she mentioned. “I simply love having basketball conversations and excessive stage IQ conversations concerning the recreation to know the place I’ll match greatest sooner or later.”