PHOENIX – Ahead of her first game against her former team, Satou Sabally is settling nicely into her new role in Phoenix.
Despite injuries, boasting a roster of six rookies and being the 11th youngest team in the league this season, the first-year Phoenix Mercury forward has helped the franchise secure a winning record through its first 10 games since 2020.
With the injured Kahleah Copper missing the first 10 games of the season and Alyssa Thomas sidelined five games, their big-3 running mate, Sabally has guided the ship with all-around contributions in their absence.
Sabally, acquired from the Dallas Wings in a four-team trade during the offseason, has expressed happiness multiple times with her fresh start in the Valley, where she’s playing with a renewed spirit this season.
“Last year was one of the hardest years I’ve faced,” Sabally said after Saturday’s loss to the Seattle Storm at home. “Having great people around you is important.”
Off to her best start since 2023, Sabally is averaging 20.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Sabally is returning from an injury-riddled year the previous season. She’s already five games away from matching the number of games she played last year with the Dallas Wings.
The Mercury have a winning record despite the injury woes they’ve faced this season. With the team’s reliance on Sabally and its rookies, Coach Nate Tibbetts is joyful but not entirely pleased with their current record.
“I’m super proud of our group. We’re missing three starters,” Tibbetts said. “I’m extremely happy. I’m not satisfied. I don’t think any of us are. But I do like where we are, and I think help is coming.”
The Mercury still await Copper’s season debut and have been without Thomas due to a calf injury for the last five games. The team has been reliant on their rookies – Monique Akoa-Makani, Kathryn Westbeld and Lexi Held – who all went undrafted this past offseason.
In the past five games with Thomas injured, Sabally averaged 21.2 points, 8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. While her production increased, Phoenix has been cautious of overusing her and potentially wearing her down.
“Satou loves basketball. She loves to be out there,” said Michael Joiner, one of the Mercury’s assistant coaches. “We don’t want to break her down or run her into the ground. But she’s been great for us. Offensively, she’s starting to see the game, so she’s playing really well.”
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At practice Tuesday, Tibbetts confirmed that Thomas is expected to return to the lineup in Wednesday’s game against the Wings.
“She’s been trending in the right direction,” Tibbetts said. “She had a really good day today.”
Sabally finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 7-for-20 shooting in Saturday’s loss against the Storm. Despite the loss, she continued her strong start, leading the team in all three major categories, and credited her tenacious offseason schedule as the driving force behind her start to the year.
“I trust in my work. I really take the offseason seriously,” Sabally said. “Just working relentlessly and trusting that you’ll perform.”
Sabally and the shorthanded Mercury wrap up their three-game homestand Wednesday, against her old team, the Wings, before heading to Las Vegas to face the Aces Sunday.
“I’m really excited to play in front of our home crowd,” Sabally said. “I feel like I really take it game by game and it’s just a regular game, but I’m excited to see the people.”
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