Nyara Sabally Withdraws from EuroBasket to Focus on Health

Brooklyn, New York — Nyara Sabally, a player for the New York Liberty, has withdrawn from the EuroBasket tournament to prioritize her health. The German National Team announced her decision on Wednesday, as EuroBasket begins today.

Sabally, 25, had initially planned to represent Germany but struggled with a knee injury for over two weeks. “It was a pretty last-minute decision,” she said. “After my knee kind of got worse and the platelet-rich plasma injection, I kind of knew it probably would be the best idea to stay here.”

Sabally expressed disappointment over not being able to play for her country. In her statement, translated from German to English, she said it was a difficult choice: “But given the rehabilitation for my knee, the intensive EuroBasket schedule and the tight WNBA calendar, I have to prioritize my health with a view to my long-term goals with the national team.”

Sabally missed six WNBA games due to her injury but made an impressive return on Tuesday, scoring nine points in a win over the Chicago Sky. Coach Sandy Brondello lauded her performance, saying, “She looked great. She’s always consistent, and every time she gets minutes, she just consistently great.”

The Liberty were preparing for several key players to leave for EuroBasket. Sabally is now the second Liberty player, following Marine Johannès, to opt out of the tournament. Meanwhile, Leonie Fiebich departed for Germany’s national team on Wednesday, leaving a gap in the Liberty’s roster. Fiebich, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds, is expected to be away for the duration of the tournament.

With both players’ absences, the Liberty will rely on Kennedy Burke, who has emerged as a key player off the bench. Burke contributed significantly to the team’s recent performances, demonstrating her shooting skills and ability to adapt.

The Liberty’s next game is on Saturday against Indiana, allowing time for players like Jonquel Jones to recover from injuries.