Satou Sabally has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Dallas Wings, as reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, who also disclosed that Sabally’s one-year deal is fully protected and worth $195,000. She was one of just a few restricted free agents this offseason, which meant that Dallas would have had the option to match any offer for the two-time All-Star, and she’ll hit the open market next winter.
Sabally, 25, has been with the Wings for her entire four-year career to this point. The reigning Most Improved Player from last season, Sabally had struggled to stay on the floor in the past, including an injury-plagued 2022 that limited her to just 11 games. It all came together last year though, when Sabally bounced back from that shortened year and provided a needed jolt to a Wings team looking to make noise alongside Arike Ogunbowale, Teaira McCowan, and Natasha Howard. Often dubbed the “unicorn” of Dallas’ club, Sabally separated herself as one of the best scoring forwards in the league last season, starting 38 games and averaging 18.6 points per game (PPG), 8.1 rebounds per game (RPG), 4.4 assists per game (APG), and 1.8 steals per game (SPG).
She continued her strong play across a couple of playoff series. Last postseason, Sabally averaged 15.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.2 blocks per game (BPG). Dallas swept its first round matchup against the Atlanta Dream before falling 3-0 to the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces.
For her career, Sabally has averaged 15.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG. She’s also established herself as one of the best overseas players in the WNBA, spending the past few winters in Turkey. This time around, she’s in China, compiling averages of 23.8 points per game (PPG), 10.6 rebounds per game (RPG), 2.8 assists per game (APG), and 1.3 steals per game (SPG) with the Shandong SL in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.
With Kalani Brown back in the fold, alongside both Teaira McCowan and Natasha Howard, Satou Sabally will continue to play a lot of minutes at the wing for one of the largest frontcourts in the W. Dallas impressed as a four-seed in Latricia Trammell’s first season as head coach, and they’ll look to improve on that mark in 2024.
