A tough blow for fans of Satou Sabally and the Unrivaled league: The Phoenix Mercury forward will be sidelined indefinitely due to lingering concussion symptoms, as announced by the 3-on-3 league on Friday. This news comes after Sabally sustained the injury during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals back on October 8th, 2025. But here's where it gets concerning: the effects of the injury are still impacting her ability to play.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the Finals game. With just 4 minutes and 26 seconds left, Sabally's head collided with a Las Vegas Aces defender's knee while chasing a rebound. The footage shows her remaining on the ground for an extended period, before struggling to get back on her feet. She was eventually helped off the court and into the locker room. This led to her absence in Game 4, which resulted in the Aces sweeping the Mercury and securing their third WNBA title in four years.
Sabally, who has a multi-year deal with Unrivaled, was set to play for Phantom BC when the league's second season tips off in January. In the inaugural season, Sabally showed her skills averaging 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for Phantom. However, the team finished last in the league standings with a record of 4-10.
Unrivaled has stated that Sabally has not been ruled out for the entire season and will be re-evaluated at a later date. In the meantime, Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes has been signed to replace Sabally on Phantom. Hayes played in Unrivaled last season with Laces BC.
And this is the part most people miss: The second season of Unrivaled is scheduled to begin on January 5th.
What do you think? Do you believe the league is doing enough to protect players from head injuries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
