Shortly before the final siren of the decisive fifth final game, Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally fell into each other’s arms and celebrated their historic triumph. The German duo secured their first title in the best women’s basketball league in the world and played a major role in their New York Liberty’s WNBA debut title.
«When Dirk Nowitzki won the championship, he sang “We are Championships” really badly. We won’t do that,” said Fiebich with a laugh after the decisive 67:62 (27:34, 60:60) after overtime in front of the home crowd against the Minnesota Lynx.
In the sixth attempt, the Liberty ended their final curse and won the North American Women’s League championship for the first time. The fifth and final final game was hard to beat in terms of drama. And in the middle of it all are Fiebich and Sabally.
Fiebich opened the extra time with a successful three-pointer, and in the final seconds she stole the ball from Minnesota when it was thrown in, thus securing the victory. Sabally scored New York’s second basket in overtime after winning the ball and blocked a Minnesota throw at 65:62.
Sabally was also instrumental in the New York comeback. The 24-year-old gave Liberty their first lead in the 27th minute after the hosts were up to twelve points behind in the first half. Sabally scored nine points in the last three and a half minutes of the third quarter.
Satou Sabally proud of her little sister
One of the first to congratulate the championship was Nyara’s sister Satou Sabally, who watched the game locally and plays in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings. «The whole arena is chanting Sabally. So proud of my little sister, she’s been through so much and deserves the world,” Satou Sabally wrote on X during the game.
Satou Sabally (26) discussed her younger sister’s serious injuries. Nyara Sabally (24) tore her cruciate ligament twice, which meant she started her professional career in New York a year late. Now she was sitting on the podium at the press conference after the finals had ended, with bottles of champagne on the table.
«This championship ring is for my whole family, especially for Satou. She was always by my side through my ups and downs – and I had a lot of downs,” Sabally said with emotion.
Leonie Fiebich crowns a fantastic year
Sabally played one of her best games of the season in the decisive championship game; like Fiebich, she scored a total of 13 points and seven rebounds. Fiebich crowned an individually fantastic year with the championship: In April she was named the best player in the Spanish league for the second time in a row.
With the German national team she made it to the quarter-finals at the Olympic premiere – together with Nyara Sabally. And in her first season in the WNBA, the 24-year-old established herself in the Liberty’s starting lineup over the course of the season and set several rookie records.
“To be honest, I can’t even realize what has happened in the last few months,” said Fiebich. «We had big goals: with the national team and the Liberty. I’m just proud to have achieved these goals.”
The Liberty achieved their goal of the championship thanks to Fiebich: in the second final they hit the decisive three-pointer. Fiebich averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the finals, which speaks for her versatility. “She is probably the best thrower on our team. And in defense she can take on an opponent across the entire field. And it seems like she doesn’t even break a sweat,” Liberty star player Sabrina Ionescu praised her teammate before the final series.
