PODCAST: Satou Sabally Joins the New York Liberty
- BRM Staff
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
What’s Next for Cloud, Laney-Hamilton & Johannes?
The moment we’ve all been refreshing the transaction wire for is here: Satou Sabally, former All-Star and one of the most electrifying forwards in the WNBA, is headed to the New York Liberty.
While Erica L. Ayala made sure to note that “it’s not officially official yet,” both fans and insiders agree Sabally is preparing to suit up in seafoam. This move is a statement: the Liberty are gunning for the title and filling the gaps that cost them last season.
Why does Sabally matter?
Maybe you’ve watched her punish teams off the dribble, rebound with an attitude, or spark her squads in transition. She averaged 18.6 points and 8.1 rebounds last year — top-25 rebounding every year but one in her career. Sabally doesn’t replace; she upgrades.
“Sabally doesn’t replace, she upgrades. This Liberty lineup just got meaner.”
As Brian put it during our latest livestream, “Having your sandpaper player be your All-WNBA player … will get into an argument with the opponent and will not back up … that energy, I feel, is really going to make her a fan favorite beyond just being a Sabally sister."
All this adds up to a Liberty lineup that’s longer, meaner, and finally built to close the margins from last season’s Finals.
The Liberty’s Roster Math: Size, Switchability, and … Waiting Games
Gotta Get Up! hosts Erica L. Ayala & Brian Fleurantin broke down New York’s recent signings and qualifying offers.
Rebecca Allen, Pauline Astier, Raquel Carrera — mostly training camp contracts so far. The headline: neither Breanna Stewart nor Jonquel Jones nor Sabally nor Marine Johannes nor Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is “officially” on paper.
But don’t panic. “We’re going to assume that all of those are real, even though they’re not on the transaction sheet yet,” Erica reassured us.
The vision for this Liberty squad is clear: length and versatility everywhere.
“[You] have switchable players 2 through 5, you’re gonna have length 2 through 5, you HAVE the athleticism … all those things that make matching up really difficult for opponents,” Brian explained.
That’s not just talk. A projected starting five of Sabrina Ionescu, Laney-Hamilton, Sabally, Stewart, and Jones would be one of the biggest and most athletic lineups in the WNBA — and after getting worked on the boards last year, it’s what Libs fans demanded.
But there’s uncertainty, too: visa issues (Leo Fiebich won’t arrive until May); signings not yet finalized; looming choices about who comes off the bench and who might be squeezed out by the salary cap.
Guard Questions Unresolved: Natasha Cloud, Sabrina, and Point Guard Identity
One of the hottest topics: Who’s actually the point guard? After a carousel of veterans — Layshia Clarendon, Courtney Vandersloot, now Natasha Cloud — there’s still no cemented answer. Brian doesn’t expect Cloud to return: “I feel like the answer is trending towards no. … It’s almost like a rough game of musical chairs."
"It's a revolving door of point guards here — is Sabrina the answer or just the only option left?”
That thrusts Sabrina Ionescu even more squarely into the PG spotlight. Yet, Erica voiced this frustration: “It does seem like it’s never giving Sabrina the one spot overall … it’s a revolving door of point guards here." The tension is whether the Liberty are truly all-in on Ionescu as lead guard or just stuck with her there by default.
Another great callout: Ionescu’s biggest knock isn’t offense but defense — will she guard “the speedy point guards like Akoa Makani in Phoenix [or] Jordin Canada in Atlanta”?
Marine Johannès, Rebecca Allen, and the Numbers Game
The bench battle is hotter than ever. “Betnijah [Laney-Hamilton] is my sixth,” Brian said, pointing out her ability to run the offense and slot in at multiple spots depending on matchups. But with names like Marine Johannès on a qualifying offer and Allen back in camp, something’s gotta give.
Johannes has to show more than highlight passes and microwave scoring. “What I want to see as far as from Marine: probably better decision making … she had her troubles on defense last year."
If she doesn’t tighten up, she could find herself squeezed out in a year; the Liberty can’t afford any defensive weak links.
Chris DeMarco Takes the Helm: Rookie Coach, Championship Pressure
This year’s Liberty doesn’t just have new faces on the floor; they’ve got a first-time head coach in Chris DeMarco. In a league accelerating with player movement, a rookie coach with a ready-made roster is an experiment with little margin for error.
Erica was blunt: “If you are a championship contender, you better know dang well that your rookie first-time coach is gonna knock it out of the park," she said on Tuesday's livestream.
“Unless Chris DeMarco is the second coming of Becky Hammon, I don’t know if I trust it.”
Opening night comes fast. Fiebich will be late, some roles are still unfilled, and the expectations for DeMarco to bring it all together fast could not be higher.
What Liberty Fans Should Be Watching Next
With WNBA training camp days away, don’t just keep refreshing the Liberty transaction page. Watch for:
Sabally’s official signing and how quickly she clicks with Stewart, Jones, and Ionescu.
Final confirmation of the core rotation — is Laney-Hamilton coming back, and who else makes the cut?
The on-court chemistry under Chris DeMarco’s new system: Are we seeing the high-movement, multi-creator offense that will keep defenses honest?
How the bench — especially Marine Johannes and Rebecca Allen — fits a “no weak links” playoff vision.
New York won the offseason, but banners aren’t raised in April. The story now is whether this team can become more than the sum of its transactions.
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