Nyara Sabally Shines in WNBA Debut
Nyara Sabally probably didn’t anticipate how smoothly she would slide into the game, effortlessly driving through to the basket and finishing with a hook shot on Liberty’s very first possession on Tuesday night. It was a notable start, marking her first WNBA appearance in two and a half hours.
This basket was just a foreshadowing of what would be an impressive comeback for Sabally. With John Quell Jones sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Sabally seized her opportunity, making a strong debut in the Liberty’s 85-66 win against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center.
She concluded the game with a season-best nine points, hitting all four of her attempts from the field. Besides that, she contributed three rebounds, a few assists, and a couple of steals in about 15 minutes of play.
Sandy Brondello, the director, expressed satisfaction with her performance. “She looked great,” he remarked. “I think we can definitely build on that. She’s consistently impressive, and she understands her role well.”
This was Savally’s third game of the season after missing six consecutive games due to knee issues. To alleviate the pain, she had received a platelet-rich plasma injection in her right knee, which seemed to help her back on the court.
After returning to practice the previous week, she was cleared to play just a day before the game.
Uncertainty looms over how long Savally will remain healthy before heading off to compete in the Eurobasket. Brondello mentioned that it’s still unclear when both she and Leonie Fevich would depart to represent Germany.
For now, the focus is on Sabally’s current fitness, and the team feels relieved to see her back on the court.
Meanwhile, Johnquell Jones was present at the game but couldn’t participate due to her ankle sprain. Brondello emphasized the team’s commitment to ensuring players are fully ready before returning. “We want them to be close to 100%,” she insisted.
Jones is expected to be sidelined for a few more days, and the team won’t play again until Saturday against Indiana, giving her more time to recuperate.
On a different note, Kennedy Burke emerged as a standout player from the bench, contributing 15 points while shooting 6-8 overall and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Over the course of nine games, she’s displayed impressive shooting statistics, demonstrating a 57.5% success rate from the field.
Brenna Stewart, her teammate, recognized Burke’s evolution in her role. “Honestly, it’s remarkable how she’s taken ownership of her position,” Stewart said. “She brings motivation and confidence every time she’s on the court, especially in a new team environment. She found her groove and it shows.”
