Liberty continue to play it safe as Nyara Sabally deals with ‘discomfort’ flare up

New York Liberty backup center Nyara Sabally continues to struggle with knee issues, missing games after the WNBA All-Star break. She sat out the wins against the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury, and coach Sandy Brondello does not expect her to play against the Los Angeles Sparks either. Brondello stated Sabally experienced "a little bit of discomfort" flaring up after resting during the midseason break, and the team is prioritizing giving her the necessary recovery time, labeling her absences as "rest".

The Liberty feel comfortable taking this cautious approach due to their roster depth. Jonquel Jones has returned from an ankle injury, Isabelle Harrison has been playing well recently, and Breanna Stewart can play center when needed. Brondello emphasized the team didn't want to risk rushing Sabally back, especially with Jones just returning, allowing them to utilize their depth.

In a separate and significant injury development, former Liberty player Kayla Thornton, now with the Valkyries, suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice. Just days after her first All-Star appearance, Thornton underwent surgery on Friday. She was having a career-best season, averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. Brondello reached out to Thornton immediately upon hearing the news, expressing that Thornton will always be part of something special with the Liberty and expressing confidence that Thornton will recover stronger.