Has anybody heard from Satou Sabally? The three-time WNBA All-Star remains absent from the Phoenix Mercury after she was benched by head coach Nate Tibbets for poor play.
A timeline for her return is not set after the sudden disappearance.
This latest WNBA drama bears a striking resemblance to what happened in Indiana earlier this season with DeWanna Bonner. Barring a change in heart, it certainly feels like Sabally is on her way out.
Where did Satou Sabally go?
The former No. 2 overall draft got off to another hot start in 2025. Sabally averaged more than 17 points, six rebounds and two assists per game during the early going. She was even named as an All-Star.
However, there were a few nights where Satou Sabally shot less than 30% from the field in late June and her numbers saw a huge drop over the last six games.
- at Dallas — 20 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals
- vs. Atlanta — 13 points, one rebounds, one assist, one steal
- at New York — six points, five rebounds, three assists
- at Washington — 15 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal
- at Indiana — nine points, five rebounds, one assist, three steals
- at Atlanta — nine points, one rebound
Tibbets decided to take his star small forward out of the game after just 12 minutes on Friday.
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts explains why he benched Satou Sabally and why he did not play Kalani Brown before the start of the third quarter.#WNBA pic.twitter.com/jHzQypJGyp
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) August 2, 2025
He did not put her back in because she did not bring the energy he expected.
When will she return to the court?
The Phoenix Mercury played again on Sunday against the Chicago Sky. They won 83-67 without Satou Sabally. Where was she? Nobody knows.
The team listed her as ‘OUT’ due to mysterious “personal reasons” prior to tipoff. Sabally was not on the bench during the game. Not even in street clothes.
If the 27-year-old just needed some time to think, the team could’ve just as easily listed her as out due to “rest” like the Wings did with Paige Bueckers last month. That would’ve been very easy to explain.
To say “personal reasons” and only “personal reasons” makes it seem like there is more to this story. It seems like Sabally is trying to force her way out of Phoenix like Bonner forced her way out of Indiana.
Maybe not. Maybe she is dealing with something more serious, in which case we wish her the best.
Nate Tibbets was not willing to expand further on what is happening. He straight up does not know when Satou Sabally will be back.
"This is a personal matter. She's out for personal reasons. We support her through this time and are excited to get her back when she's ready."
— PHNX Mercury (@PHNX_Mercury) August 3, 2025
Nate Tibbetts, pregame, speaking to the status of Satou Sabally pic.twitter.com/ea8KoISkAV
Of course, this only adds to the suspicion. What is really going on? Where did she go?
The post WNBA Coach Refuses To Explain All-Star Player’s Mysterious Disappearance After Surprise Benching appeared first on BroBible.
WNBA Coach Refuses To Explain All-Star Player’s Mysterious Disappearance After Surprise Benching
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