Nyara Sabally walked back into Barclays Center on Wednesday in a Toronto Tempo uniform and was greeted like someone coming home. New York fans gave her a warm reception during lineup announcements and again after a tribute video, even though she was lining up against the Liberty team she helped push to the franchise’s first WNBA championship in 2024.
She finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists in New York’s 97-82 win, a stat line that showed why Toronto wanted her as a bigger piece after three seasons with the Liberty. The 26-year-old had been averaging a career-high 11.9 points heading into the game, and Wednesday was her first return to New York after Toronto selected her in the expansion draft while she was still at Barclays Center.
For Sabally, the night carried more than a box score. She arrived in New York on Tuesday and went to her sister’s apartment, where former Liberty teammates including Leonie Fiebich joined her. The tribute video at the arena honored Sabally, Sandy Brondello, Isabelle Harrison, Olaf Lange and Brian Lankton, and it underlined how quickly her path in New York had changed: Satou Sabally joined the Liberty in free agency eight days after Toronto took Nyara in the expansion draft, leaving the sisters to cross paths as opponents instead of teammates.
Breanna Stewart said the move gave Sabally a role she did not have before, one that has turned into a starting job and a heavier load on offense. Stewart said she was happy for her former teammate and added that Sabally has taken full advantage of the opportunity to lead, though that same flexibility makes her difficult to contain when Toronto gets her rolling. Sabally said it was always special to be back in New York and said she and Brondello had a great time there with amazing fans.
The one complication for New York is the one that keeps the roster in flux. Sabrina Ionescu was sidelined with back soreness and remained day to day, and coach Chris DeMarco said the hope was that she would be ready for Saturday against the Fever. If that happens, the Liberty will get another chance to steady a backcourt that has already been forced to adjust while one Sabally sister wears blue and orange and the other wears the city’s other colors.
