The Valkyries defeated the Liberty 87-70 on Thursday night, controlling the tempo from the opening tip. Five Golden State players scored in double figures, led by Gabby Williams with 16 points, while New York suffered without Sabrina Ionescu.
The decisive blowout spoiled the highly anticipated season debut of New York’s free-agent signing, Satou Sabally.
Sabally returned to action following a lengthy recovery from a concussion, recording five points and four rebounds in her first game with the franchise. Meanwhile, the Liberty offense struggled to find a rhythm without star playmaker Ionescu, who remained sidelined due to an ongoing foot injury.
Satou Sabally Returns From WNBA Concussion Protocol
Fans tracking Sabally's injury status finally got answers on Thursday.
The 27-year-old forward missed the start of the regular season while recovering from a cyst and a concussion sustained during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals with Phoenix last year.
After her long break, Sabally received a warm ovation from the home crowd in her first appearance for New York. She started the game and logged 16.5 minutes on the floor, providing a foundational piece for the team's frontcourt.
Sabrina Ionescu Injury Update: Liberty Offense Stalls in Loss
With Sabally back, the bigger question for New York remains the status of their star point guard.
Ionescu originally sustained a left foot and ankle injury during a preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun. Although she returned to practice this week, she was ultimately ruled out just before tipoff.
Without Ionescu, Golden State disrupted the Liberty's rhythm early in the game. New York had averaged 100 points per game over their first four contests, but they found little room to breathe against the Valkyries' defensive pressure.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Jonquel Jones added 16 points. But the rest of the roster struggled to find efficient shots, and the Liberty finished the night shooting just 6-for-24 from three-point range.
While New York looked for answers on offense, Golden State capitalized on transition opportunities, building a comfortable nine-point lead in the first quarter. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Valkyries extended the margin to 63-46 and never looked back.
Golden State has a quick turnaround this week, heading to Indiana to face the Fever tonight while the Liberty takes on the Dallas Wings at home on Sunday.
