From BZ/dpa
Satou Sabally is Germany’s best basketball player. After difficult years for the national team, she has set an ambitious goal.
Germany’s best basketball player Satou Sabally has promised the national team its own commitment guarantee and announced ambitious goals.
In a good mood and aiming high: Satou Sabally Photo: dpa-Bildfunk
“I want an Olympic medal. I don’t just want to be at the Olympics. Maybe now is not the time. But I believe that we are now preparing to be able to win a medal as a German women’s team at some point,” said the 25-year-old in an interview with Magentasport.
At the age of 14 in the 2nd league
Sabally grew up in Berlin and played for TuS Lichterfelde in the 2nd Bundesliga at the age of 14. She ended up with the Dallas Wings in 2020 via Freiburg, the University of Oregon and Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Last season she made it to the semi-finals of the North American professional league WNBA.
Regarding her goals, she said: “There would be the WNBA title. I definitely want to have that. Also with Dallas, my team.” On Thursday (6 p.m.) Germany’s national team will play in the Czech Republic, Sabally will be there. The competition is officially called European Championship qualification, but both teams are qualified to co-host the tournament in summer 2025.
From February 8th to 11th, 2024, national coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team in Brazil will initially focus on qualifying for the Olympics in Paris. Then there will be the European Championships in 2025 and the home World Cup in 2026.
“I have been wearing the national team jersey since I was 15 years old. I know how proud it was to wear a German jersey, Germany on your chest,” said Sabally. Her goal is to inspire in the coming phase.
“Hey – the next two years are so important for German women’s basketball – I have to be there now. There are so many girls in Germany who also look up and say: I want to be like Satou Sabally,” described the 25-year-old.