New York Liberty receive bad news amid playoff standings race

The New York Liberty have received some disappointing news as Breanna Stewart's teammate, Satou Sabally, has announced she will be stepping away from the team indefinitely due to lingering concussion symptoms. Head coach Chris DeMarco revealed that Sabally is taking a break to recover from her second significant head injury in the past year. This news comes amid a challenging season for the Liberty, who currently possess a win-loss record of 21-14, placing them sixth in the WNBA standings.

Sabally, who signed a two-year, $1.67 million fully guaranteed contract with the Liberty, has struggled with her performance since joining the team. She has averaged only 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, both of which are career lows. The injury concerns have added to the team's numerous setbacks this season, with other notable absences including Ionescu missing 12 games and Leonie Fiebich missing 21.

Despite these challenges, the Liberty have been led by star player Breanna Stewart, who is currently averaging an impressive 21 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. However, the team has fallen short in crucial moments, allowing 40 fourth-quarter points from the Los Angeles Sparks in a recent 85-81 win. The absence of Sabally only adds to the Liberty's uphill climb in their pursuit of a championship.

While the talented roster provides plenty of time and opportunities for improvement, the team's future success will undoubtedly be affected by the indefinite absence of one of their key players.