Satou Sabally will have a new home in the WNBA in 2025.
Would it be with the Indiana fever?
Sabally, who played her entire career in Dallas, announced during a press briefing for Unrivaled, Miami’s new 3×3 league, that she would not return to the Wings in 2025.
“I’ve already expressed my gratitude to Dallas because they’ve made it my home for the last few years,” Sabally said over Zoom. “I am working with them to find a next home for me, as I have already played my last game in Dallas.”
The 26-year-old has been considered one of the best power forwards in the WNBA since she was drafted to Dallas by the University of Oregon with the second pick in the 2020 draft. She was All- Star in 2021 and 2023 and led the German national team at the Paris Olympics.
The 6-4 forward has had some injury issues during her five years in the league, including a torn Achilles, a concussion and injuries to her shoulder, knee and ankle. That limited her to just one full season (38 games in a 2023 Most Improved Player campaign) when she was with Dallas. She played in 18 of Dallas’ 22 games during the 2020 season, which was affected by COVID-19, 17 of 32 games in 2021, 11 of 36 games in 2022 and 15 of 40 games in 2024.
However, these injuries should not affect the offers she receives: she will likely receive a maximum salary. In her five years, she averaged 15.7 points, seven rebounds and 3.6 assists per game when healthy.
Sabally played through her rookie contract, then signed a one-year deal with Dallas in restricted free agency in 2024. She is eligible to be drafted by the Wings, and they will likely execute that option in order to get something in return for their star striker. .
So what can the Fever offer the Wings to potentially put Sabally on their roster?
That would likely start with Fever forward NaLyssa Smith and Indiana’s No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft.
Smith, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, is in the final year of his rookie contract. His salary for 2025 is expected to be around $90,000, which is protected. Smith had a rough year in 2024 and publicly expressed frustrations with his playing time throughout the season, as his minutes decreased in favor of backup forward Temi Fagbenle (who was drafted by the Golden State Valkyries during the expansion draft).
Smith averaged 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 2024 (up from 15.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in 2023), so she could benefit from a fresh start in a different location. She could have several years of control, as she will be a restricted free agent in 2026. Her name has been popping up regularly on trade boards throughout the offseason, and she could be a good fit for Dallas — she’s a San Antonio native , in Texas, and played at Baylor in Waco.
Smith, along with Fever’s No. 8 pick, would make a solid trade package for Sabally — who only has up to two years of control remaining in two years of base service.
The problem the Fever could possibly encounter is their current intention to raid Kelsey Mitchell.
Mitchell has two years of base service remaining, representing a maximum salary of about $249,000 in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights, and the Fever plan to use the first of those in 2025. That would not be not an immediate problem – a sign – and the trade for Sabally means his primary designation will not appear on either Dallas’ or Indiana’s books in 2025.
The Wings made a similar trade to trade Skylar Diggins-Smith to the Mercury in 2020 – Diggins-Smith was cut by Dallas and traded to Phoenix, who had already dealt Brittney Griner. Because Diggins-Smith was not specifically retained by Phoenix, the Mercury could have both players on those contracts.
The Fever could also afford Mitchell and Sabally in 2025. Indiana has nine players under contract for 2025 with approximately $657,000 in cap space remaining after those contracts. With Mitchell’s $250,000 supermax salary and Sabally’s $230,000 max salary, Indiana would still have money to draft a solid player for its 12th roster spot.
The problem could arise in 2026, when Mitchell and Sabally will still be eligible and on the Fever’s books. It is unlikely that either will sign a contract longer than a year this season, as the renegotiated collective bargaining agreement will likely provide players with exponentially better salaries starting in 2026. Indiana could, in this situation , having to choose between ousting Mitchell or Sabally. – risk letting the other walk.
All of this also assumes that Sabally would agree to come to Fever.
There will likely be several other teams in the mix for the star forward, who will essentially be able to pick and choose where she wants to go. While available on Zoom, she expressed interest in playing with her sister, Nyara Sabally, who currently plays for the New York Liberty.
“Yeah, sure, in the future I would love it,” Sabally said. according to ESPN.
The defending WNBA champion New York Liberty has several players it could trade, including the rights to guards Marine Johannes or Rebekah Gardner or first-round pick Marquesha Davis. New York also owns the No. 7 pick, which was originally the Mercury’s in the 2025 draft, due to several trades.
New York also has room to sign Sabally, at least for 2025. Sabally would reunite with her sister, Oregon teammate Sabrina Ionescu, and immediately play a championship contender.
For Fever to overcome the prospect of playing with his sister and one of his close friends on the defending champion team, or other offers made by Sabally, they would both have to convince the Wings with a complete trade package and Sabally herself benefits. to play in Indiana – which, of course, includes playing with rookie phenom Caitlin Clark in sold-out games, both home and on the road, and the extensive media coverage that comes with it.
This article was originally published on the Indianapolis Star: Satou Sabally is not returning to Dallas. Could she join Indiana Fever?
