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Liberty re-sign star Jonquel Jones, make free-agent splash with Satou Sabally: reports
TL;DR
The New York Liberty have re-signed star Jonquel Jones and signed free-agent Satou Sabally to multiyear deals. Jones has been a key player for the Liberty for the past three seasons after previously playing for the Connecticut Sun.
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images North America/TNS)
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty got the team’s engine back while replacing one Sabally for another.
The team agreed to multiyear deals with returning star Jonquel Jones and free-agent Satou Sabally, according to reports.
Jones, the Liberty’s 6-6 cog on both sides of the floor, has spent the last three seasons with the Liberty after the five-time All-Star spent her first six seasons in Connecticut.
The 2021 MVP averaged 13.6 points, 8.1, rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 31 games in 2025. Right ankle injuries caused Jones to miss parts of the 2025 regular season — a period where the team experienced a significant drop-off on the floor without her.
In an offseason filled with anticipation as the Liberty — and most WNBA teams — awaited decisions on unrestricted free agents, Jones was the first major piece to re-sign with New York.
Breanna Stewart has yet to re-sign, but has publicly reiterated her intentions to stay in New York.
Sabrina Ionescu, the third of the Liberty’s star core, reportedly received a core offer from the franchise. A core designation — similar to the NFL’s franchise tag — gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player and comes with a contract of a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax ($1.4 million in 2026).
Now, New York’s Big 3 turns into a Big 4 with the addition of Sabally.
Sabally, who surged with the Phoenix Mercury last season to the 2025 WNBA Finals, lands in New York just a week after her sister — Nyara Sabally — was relocated to the Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion draft.
Satou’s 2025 Phoenix squad eliminated the Liberty, 2-1, in the first-round of the postseason. She averaged 15.6 points and nine rebounds in the three-game series after posting 16.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the regular season.
Enemies are now allies as Satou brings her talents to New York.
The bond is even tighter as she rejoins former Oregon Duck teammate Ionescu.
Next up for the Liberty are deals to officially re-sign Stewart and Ionescu.
With the team closing deals for its most expensive players, the spotlight moves on to potential negotiations with Natasha Cloud and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
Cloud entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent while Laney-Hamilton is essentially a reserve player in 2026 after having her contract suspended last year.
The designation allows Laney-Hamilton to only negotiate with the Liberty.
Reserve players Rebekah Gardner and Marine Johannes are anticipated to make a return as they’ve both received qualifying offers from the Liberty.
The offseason frenzy continues on Monday for the 2026 WNBA draft. The Liberty own just a third-round pick (41st overall) entering draft night.
The team and new head coach Chris DeMarco open the 2026 WNBA regular season on May 8 against the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center.
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Q&A
What are the details of Jonquel Jones' re-signing with the New York Liberty?
Jonquel Jones has agreed to a multiyear deal to return to the New York Liberty, where she has played for the last three seasons.
Who is Satou Sabally and why did the Liberty sign her?
Satou Sabally is a free-agent player who has been signed by the Liberty to replace another player, enhancing the team's roster.
How many seasons did Jonquel Jones play with the Connecticut Sun?
Jonquel Jones played six seasons with the Connecticut Sun before joining the New York Liberty.
