By Jennifer Roback
On April 11, 2022, Nyara Sabally was drafted by the New York Liberty as the No. 5 pick overall. However, the team announced that she will be missing out on the upcoming WNBA season as she recovers from a knee injury.
"We knew heading into the selection for Nyara that there was a very strong chance that she would not play this year because of her current health condition," Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said, via ESPN. "We're going to have her rights going forward and we're going to work with Nyara and her representatives and doctors to make sure that she's ready for 2023."
Sabally was a standout player for the University of Oregon Ducks but was limited to 47 games due to knee injuries. Despite this, when she did get a chance to play, she was one of the top players in the NCAA, averaging a team-high of 15.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG in her senior season, according to ESPN.
She is also the sister of Satou Sabally, who was drafted as the No. 2 overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2020 draft.
With Sabally expected to make her WNBA debut in 2023, she will be joined on the court by former Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. While the two never played together, Sabally looks forward to continuing the Ducks' legacy in the WNBA.
“I’m super excited to finally get to share the court with her on the same team again,” Sabally said, via Oregon Live. “She’s an amazing person, an amazing player and I can’t wait for her passes.”
Along with Sabally, the New York Liberty also announced that 19-year-old Sika Kone, the team's No. 29 pick, will also sit out as she undergoes rehab for the arthroscopic surgery she had on her right knee in March.
Training camp is scheduled to begin on April 17, 2022, with the regular season beginning on May 6.