Two-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally communicated with the Dallas Wings his desire to play for another franchise next season.
“I’ve already expressed to Dallas how grateful I am because they’ve made this place a home for me for the last (five) years,” Sabally said Thursday at a news conference ahead of the premiere. Unrivaled Season, a new 3×3 offseason league co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier And Breanna Stewart. “I’m working with them to find my next home because I already played my last game in Dallas.
“I’m excited about free agency. I can talk to a lot of players outside of the league because I haven’t played for another team yet and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better on a personal level, but also how they approach the game. »
Sabally, a 2023 first-team All-WNBA forward, spent her entire five-season career with the Wings after the franchise selected her with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
Sabally is an unrestricted free agent and will be one of the most sought-after free agents. However, the Wings can infiltrate it if they wish. If they do, Sabally could only move to another team via sign-and-trade. Dallas may extend a qualifying offer to eligible players on January 11.
Dallas is in a period of organizational transition, having hired a new coach (Chris Koclanes) and general manager (Curt Miller) this offseason. Koclanes, a first-year head coach, joins the franchise after a season and a half as an assistant coach at USC and eight seasons as an assistant in the WNBA, all under Miller. Miller, meanwhile, joined Dallas after a 9-31 record last season and had previously coached the team. The Sparks of Los Angeles And Connecticut Sunshine.
“The word for us this year is fundamental,” Miller said Thursday during Koclanes’ introductory news conference. “We are trying to create a real foundation not only in the style of play and what our pillars are on and off the field, but also in terms of free agency.”
“You have to compliment Satou’s career at this point,” he added. “When she’s healthy, she’s an elite player and she makes a difference. You realize the talent she has. We absolutely recognize the talent, what she represents and the impact she can have on this league.
Koclanes joins the Wings at a pivotal moment in franchise history. With star guard Arike Ogunbowale still under contract, the Wings also hold the rights to the No. 1 pick in April’s 2025 WNBA Draft, where the UConn star Paige Bueckers is the presumptive selection if she chooses to become a professional. As Dallas eyes its fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, it will do so with a decision coming in the near future. The franchise is targeting a move from Arlington to downtown Dallas by the start of the 2026 season, planning to open a new training facility that year and undertake broader business transformations.
It appears that Sabally will not participate in this next step.
“At first they were still trying, but I think the most effective thing is to work with the player, listen to his wishes and find out how we can find the best solution for each other,” she said THURSDAY. “There’s always been great communication, especially on the agent side now, because I have to focus on Unrivaled, and I will. I have good communication with them.
Sabally missed most of last season after injuring his shoulder last winter while playing with the German national team. However, she still averaged 17.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
Dallas Wings, WNBA
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