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PHOENIX—Shamekka Marty, Co-Founder and CEO of the sports activities well being nonprofit Past the Recreation Well being, is a number one well being advocate who spoke on the WNBA Legends brunch earlier this summer season.
In an unique interview with Ballislife, Marty shared insights on the harm suffered by Phoenix Mercury star Sabally Sabally throughout Recreation 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday.
Satou Sabally Out for Recreation 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals with a Concussion
The Phoenix Mercury introduced Thursday that ahead Satou Sabally would miss Recreation 4 of the WNBA Finals in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces as a consequence of concussion protocol.
Sabally’s harm occurred within the fourth quarter of Recreation 3 when she collided with Kierstan Bell’s knee. The officiating crew referred to as it a standard foul. Mercury gamers gathered round Saball, who remained down, and she or he was carried off the courtroom by teammate Kalani Brown.
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson advised reporters at an elective shootaround on Thursday that her “coronary heart is heavy” for Sabally.
Through the Mercury’s shootaround Friday, head coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned he noticed Sabally within the physician’s workplace after Recreation 3 on Wednesday and observed she was in ache and dizzy.
Las Vegas Aces middle A’ja Wilson mentioned her “coronary heart is heavy” for Phoenix Mercury ahead Satou Sabally who was dominated out of Recreation 4 with a concussion.
Wilson mentioned as a pacesetter she wants to verify the Aces locker room doesn’t get complacent.#WNBA pic.twitter.com/V0FtvFLCG8
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) October 9, 2025
Shamekka Marty spreads consciousness on persistent sickness
All through her profession, Marty has grow to be a motivational speaker who has championed causes corresponding to persistent sickness, psychological well being, girls’s well being, and digital inclusion in sports activities.
Her life was stuffed with adversity, included present process a kidney transplant simply two years in the past and caring for her family with severe well being points. Honored as one of many Prime 25 Girls in Healthcare IT and a Prime 10 Persistent Sickness influencer in 2025, she now shares her story to encourage others.
Marty met with Ballislife for an unique interview on the extent of Sabally’s harm and the way medical insurance works within the WNBA, because the CBA negotiations are nonetheless ongoing.
Ballislife: What’s the extent of Satou Sabally’s harm, which has her within the concussion protocol?
Marty: Satou Sabally’s concussion locations her in a really delicate state the place her mind wants correct relaxation and analysis. Whereas full particulars haven’t been launched, concussions are unpredictable and might differ in severity. Returning to play too quickly can improve the danger of re-injury or long-term neurological results that will not seem instantly. Identical as a automobile accident harm.
Ballislife: What are the long-term results of the concussion on Sabally, who’s within the prime of her skilled profession?
Marty: If not managed accurately, concussions can result in CTE. As a result of this situation could cause reminiscence loss, adjustments in temper or habits, melancholy, an individual can undergo long-term cognitive decline. For a participant in her prime, it could possibly shorten her profession and have an effect on her psychological well being and high quality of life for years to return. Us as girls already expertise hormonal points all through our lives so this simply provides to it. This might even go undetected and isn’t talked about for girls as it’s for males due to this.
Ballislife: How may such a harm have an effect on Sabally bodily and mentally all through the WNBA Finals?
Marty: Bodily, she could expertise fatigue, gentle sensitivity, stability points, and slower response instances, which make it tough to carry out at an elite degree. A concussion can result in nervousness, frustration, and self-doubt. The strain to play whereas nonetheless recovering could cause emotional misery and influence confidence, particularly throughout high-stakes moments just like the Finals. She could personally not forgive herself for making an attempt to play by way of it or that she failed her crew. The self doubt could be a barrier that some simply can’t overcome.
Ballislife: How does medical insurance work within the WNBA, because the league undergoes necessary CBA negotiations?
Marty: In comparison with males’s skilled leagues, the structural security web is weaker in areas corresponding to assured full pay throughout harm absences, long-term incapacity protections, or robust supplemental harm compensation clauses. NBA gamers like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can sit out by way of accidents or contractual disputes and nonetheless obtain full wage; WNBA gamers typically lack those self same protections and thus face important monetary threat when injured or pressured to relaxation. It relies on how the contract was drawn.
Ballislife: Elena Delle Donne was identified with Lyme illness. She missed the 2020 season to keep away from COVID-19 after enjoying the earlier 12 months with three herniated discs. These components modified the trajectory of her profession. In your opinion, is that this one thing Satou Sabally also needs to be involved about?
Marty: Sure. For Satou Sabally, this concussion needs to be taken very critically as a result of the long-term influence of pushing by way of accidents will be life altering. Many WNBA gamers really feel strain to play by way of ache as a result of lacking video games impacts their earnings and profession standing. That strain can result in everlasting injury that would have been prevented with correct restoration and assist. Coaches and medical professionals which are on STAFF ought to advocate for his or her properly being. If we’re proactive then wins will probably be throughout (participant and crew).
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