Liberty lose Nyara Sabally to Tempo in WNBA expansion draft

Nyara Sabally’s time in New York has come to an end. 

The Toronto Tempo picked Sabally on Friday with their second pick (fourth overall) in the expansion draft. 

The decision reunited Sabally with Sandy Brondello, who was named the Tempo’s inaugural head coach after the Liberty ousted her following the 2025 season. 

Sabally, a 6-foot-5 center, wasn’t the only Liberty player who heard their name called Friday. The Tempo also acquired the rights to French center Adja Kane, whom the Liberty picked No. 38 overall in 2025.

Per the expansion draft rules, teams could protect only five of their players — one fewer than the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft last offseason. The lists weren’t made public. 

General manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement that it was “extremely difficult” to say goodbye to Sabally. 

Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever drives to the basket as Nyara Sabally of the New York Liberty gives chase during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“From the moment she arrived in 2022, Nyara brought professionalism, humility and a true team-first mindset, quickly becoming a valued part of our locker room and Liberty family,” Kolb said. “We are grateful for everything she gave to this team and excited to see her step into an expanded role in the next chapter of her career with Toronto.”

After cementing her spot in the team’s future with a heroic performance in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, Sabally looked forward to having an expanded role with the team in 2025. But ahead of the Liberty’s third game of the season, discomfort flared up in Sabally’s surgically-repaired right knee.

She ultimately was limited to only 17 games in 2025. 

Sabally’s lingering knee issues raised questions regarding her future with the Liberty, who drafted her No. 5 overall in 2022. 

Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (13) speaks with center Nyara Sabally (8) during the first half against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Sabally had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee twice and had a follow-up surgery in 2022, sidelining her for what would’ve been her rookie season. 

After an injury-disturbed 2025 season, Sabally decided not to play overseas this offseason in order to prioritize her health.

Sabally appeared in 76 games in three seasons with the Liberty. She has one year remaining on her rookie-scale contract. 

Meanwhile, Kane has yet to make her WNBA debut. She spent this past season with Landerneau Bretagne Basket of the French LFB, averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 19 games.

Sabally and Kane are two of the 11 players the Tempo added to make the foundation of their inaugural roster.

The Portland Fire also drafted 11 players, though none from the Liberty.