Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally will not suit up for her team’s next pivotal game, which will decide its fate. On Thursday, Oct. 9, it was reported by women’s basketball reporter Alexa Philippou that Sabally has been ruled out of Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals against coach Becky Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces.
This comes as coach Nate Tibbetts’ Mercury squad faces a steep 0-3 deficit in the finals, with their last loss coming on Tuesday, Oct. 7, on their home floor through a game-winner by 2025 regular season MVP A’ja Wilson, 90-88. Amid a huge mountain to climb in the hopes of staying alive to win this year’s WNBA title, Sabally has been diagnosed with a concussion and will be unable to suit up on Friday, Oct. 10, at home.
Breaking: Satou Sabally has been diagnosed with a concussion and has been ruled out for Game 4, the Mercury announce.
A huge blow for Phoenix, who faces a steep task in trying to overcome an 0-3 deficit without one of their stars
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 9, 2025
She suffered a minor head injury after Aces guard Jackie Young inadvertently hit Sabally’s head with her right forearm while contesting a close shot by Sabally. This caused Sabally to fall and tumble onto the ground as her teammates kept a close eye on her before Mercury staff stepped in to assist her. Sabally left Game 3 at the 4:26 mark of the fourth quarter, when Phoenix was down by 10 points, 82-72.
It’s unclear whether Sabally can return if there is a Game 5 in this year’s finals. But given that she suffered a minor head injury, there is optimism that the former Oregon Duck star will return if her teammates can extend the series on Friday. The Mercury will have to do it without their key cog, Sabally, at the frontcourt.
Also Read: Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx Preview: Key Players, Stats, And What’s At Stake
No WNBA or NBA Team Has Ever Rallied From A 0-3 Deficit
Unfortunately for coach Nate Tibbetts’ Phoenix Mercury, no WNBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit in any playoff series in league history.
This year’s finals are actually the first time that the WNBA used a best-of-seven series format, but the same principle applies to the league’s male counterpart, the NBA, as teams are historically 0-159 when it comes to 0-3 holes in a playoff series.
Read More: “WNBA MVP Candidate Alyssa Thomas Can’t Make a F*ckin Lay Up”: Fans Show No Mercy to Mercury Star After Dull Display vs Lynx
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