At 27, Satou Sabally stands poised to ascend to MVP‐caliber heights. Fresh off her Most Improved Player honor and an All‐WNBA First Team selection in 2023, she inked a one‐year, $215,000 deal for 2025—positioning herself for free agency with maximum leverage.
Known for juggling WNBA seasons with international play, the Phoenix Mercury forward stunned listeners by declaring her intention to bypass Germany’s home‐court advantage at EuroBasket Women 2025.
By dedicating herself exclusively to Phoenix this summer, she not only cements her leadership role but also sends a clear message: her commitment to championship glory eclipses all other allegiances.
Satou Sabally Shocks Everyone With Bold Announcement
Under the bright lights of Phoenix Basketball Club’s media room, Sabally let the cat out of the bag just 24 hours before training camp tipped off.
A thunderbolt dropped on May 8, 2025, when Mercury forward Sabally announced, “I’m not going to play at EuroBasket this season,” heralding a seismic shift in her priorities as she prepares for the upcoming WNBA campaign.
In foregoing international duty, Sabally sacrifices the chance to represent co‐host nation Germany on home soil, instead committing every ounce of her energy to forging chemistry with her new Mercury teammates and maximizing her impact under first‐year head coach Nate Tibbetts.
This bold move caps a whirlwind offseason that saw General Manager Nick U’Ren orchestrate a blockbuster four‐team trade to bring Sabally and Alyssa Thomas (forward) to Phoenix, cementing a new “Big Three” alongside Kahleah Copper.
With EuroBasket set for June 18–29 across four nations, including Hamburg and Greece, Sabally’s absence leaves both fans and pundits eager to see how her single‐minded focus will reshape the Mercury’s title aspirations and redefine her own career trajectory.
As a co‐host nation, Germany anticipated its star forward leading the charge and galvanizing local support, which now won’t be the case.
Sabally boasts a sterling international résumé, having averaged 25 points per game (against France) in Germany’s Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and registering a 33‐point explosion—a top‐10 all‐time Olympic scoring performance.
MORE: Phoenix Mercury 2025 WNBA Schedule: List of All Games, Key Matchups and More
Sabally and Mercury’s 2025 Championship Aspirations
Mercury brass and fans alike view this season as “now or never” to reclaim WNBA supremacy. After missing the playoffs in 2024 and finishing 19–21, Phoenix’s revamped core shifts the narrative from rebuilding to bona fide title contention.
As the Mercury opened training camp in late-April and the WNBA season looms starting May 17 against the Seattle Storm, all eyes will track Sabally’s every move on the court, in the locker room, and beyond.
Her decision to forgo EuroBasket is more than a scheduling choice. It’s a high‐stakes wager on herself and her adopted franchise, and the opening note in what promises to be a defining chapter of her career.