Nyara

Sabally

Having injured her right ankle during New York’s June 5 win over the Mystics, Jones did not play in Tuesday’s win over the Sky. Nyara Sabally replaced her in the starting lineup and would retain that role if Jones cannot play on Saturday afternoon. Even if Jones does return, the Liberty will be without Leonie Fiebich, who will play for Germany in the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket tournament. So, Sabally will figure prominently in the rotation, even if Jones plays.

The New York Liberty will only have one player missing time for EuroBasket as Leonie Fiebich left to play for the German National team in EuroBasket on Wednesday. As a result New York temporarily suspended Fiebich’s contract, a procedural action general managers take when players miss time for international commitments. Fiebich made a different decision than Liberty and national teammate Nyara Sabally. Sabally withdrew from the tournament to prioritize her health as she just recovered from a knee injury. Fiebich’s decision came as a result of the tournament being hosted in her home country Germany. With Fiebich not with the team for at most until the Liberty’s July 3 home game against the Sparks, expect forward Kennedy Burke to earn most of the starts in her place with guard Marine Johannès playing more minutes when the Liberty want to play smaller.

The German Basketball Federation announced on Wednesday that one of their stars Nyara Sabally won’t participate in the EuroBasket qualifying tournament, a tournament that Germany is hosting for the first time this year in Hamberg. This comes a day after Sabally made her return to the court after missing two and a half weeks with soreness in her right knee. In the German Federation’s press release, Sabally explained that she made the decision not to play so that she can prioritize her health, and the intense EuroBasket schedule and tight WNBA schedule would be difficult to manage after coming off a knee injury. Especially with Jonquel Jones still rehabbing from a sprained ankle, New York will be able to continue to build on Sabally’s minutes as they go into their final two Commissioner’s Cup games. It initially seemed that Isabelle Harrison would see more opportunities with Sabally overseas, but that’s now uncertain with Sabally remaining in New York.

Sabally returned on Tuesday from a six-game absence due to a knee injury that had sidelined her for much of the season. Her return coincided with Jonquel Jones’ absence (ankle), which led the third-year forward to the first start of her WNBA career. Sabally didn’t miss a single shot en route to a new season-high in scoring, while making subtle contributions across the board in just 15 minutes. She’ll likely continue to start in Jones’ place should the 2024 Finals MVP remain out with the ankle injury, making Sabally a streaming option with upside in fantasy leagues.

The Liberty will be without 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones on Tuesday, prompting a starting lineup change that will see third-year center Nyara Sabally enter the opening unit. Sabally has dealt with her own injuries this year and has not played since the second game of the season, but her return against the Sky will mark the first start of her career. She will look stay healthy and help New York extend its winning streak to nine games while remaining undefeated on the season.

Jones injured her right ankle during the first half of Thursday’s win over the Mystics, hence her absence from Tuesday’s contest. While Kennedy Burke started the second half of Thursday’s victory, Chicago’s frontcourt size could lead to Nyara Sabally starting. If so, it would be the first start of Sabally’s WNBA career. Isabelle Harrison should also pick up additional minutes with Jones unavailable.

Jones will remain out after she rolled her ankle with 2:23 left in the first quarter after she came down funny on a missed layup. Jones did not return to the bench following halftime and Kennedy Burke started the second half in her place. With Nyara Sabally inactive on Thursday night, Burke and Isabelle Harrison will rotate in to cover her minutes while Breanna Stewart shifts to the center spot for the rest of the game.

Thursday’s game will be the sixth Sabally has missed with a right knee injury. However, a return may be on the horizon. Sabally has practiced recently, and Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said she hopes to get the backup center back in action as soon as June 10 against the Sky. Isabelle Harrison has played additional rotation minutes off the bench but has not done enough to impact fantasy basketball.

Sabally is once again listed as questionable on the Liberty’s pregame injury report. However, she has not appeared in a game since May 22, leaving the reigning champs without a legitimate backup center. Without Sabally, the Liberty have been able to go small when starting center Jonquel Jones needs a breather. Also, Isabelle Harrison’s playing time has increased with Sabally out of the lineup, but not enough to impact fantasy basketball.

After playing in the Liberty’s first two games of the season, Sabally will now be sidelined for a fifth straight game as she continues to battle a knee injury. New York will miss the inside presence that the third-year center provides as a depth piece in the frontcourt, but the team has played well and won each of the four games she has missed thus far. Now 6-0 on the season, the Liberty will look to stay undefeated against the Sun.