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  6. article_body => "<p>In three years, <strong>Satou Sabally<\/strong> has gone from a spot-up shooter who just hung around the three-point line, to the potential No. 2 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n<p>Oregon women\u2019s basketball head coach Kelly Graves knew how high Sabally\u2019s ceiling could reach and the potential she has on the court. Her WNBA body is one thing, but the game really slowed down for Sabally from year one to year two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She capped off her freshman campaign in Eugene, Oregon with Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors, but there was so much more potential and room to grow.<\/p>\n<p>Two years, one Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award, a Final Four appearance and two Pac-12 Championships later, and Sabally\u2019s hard work and determination have paid off.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>It would mean so much to me, just being viewed as such a good player, gives me so much joy and happiness, but it also shows that it pays off to work hard every day and just keep grinding. As I said it means a lot to me, mock drafts are still mock drafts, but I\u2019m just so blessed to be able to be on No. 2. \u2014 Satou Sabally<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Be sure to check out the latest <strong>Talkin\u2019 Ducks Podcast<\/strong> with host Jordan Kent and special guest former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck:<\/em><\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/talkin-ducks\/embed?playlist_type=latest\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p>The decision to forgo her senior year at Oregon and declare for the WNBA Draft was not easy and weighed on Sabally even after she sent in her papers to the WNBA.<\/p>\n<p>There were pros and cons for staying and leaving. If she stayed, she could have one season playing alongside her younger sister Nyara Sabally (who is coming off injury).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We still don\u2019t know if there will be a WNBA season. It\u2019s kind of risky but on the other hand I also thought that I was ready to leave. This is part of being a professional\u2026 I still feel ready to take the challenge and accept it as it is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>I had the luxury of having an alternative decision of returning back to college and I didn\u2019t take it because ultimately I\u2019m just ready for a new step. \u2014 Satou Sabally<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Berlin, Germany native will have video conference support from her family 8,494 km away and nine hours ahead in time. It will be approximately 1 a.m. in Germany when Sabally\u2019s name will be called during the draft.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest factors why Sabally did decide to turn pro is her family. She would love to help support her family financially. It was unfortunate that they couldn't fly overseas and attend Satou's \"senior\" night in Eugene, Oregon following her final game in a Ducks uniform at Matthew Knight Arena, but the cost of doing so is very high. Sabally wants to do what she can to help support her family and the WNBA new CBA sure helps with that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s hard to access ESPN overseas but I hope this time it\u2019s going to be possible so they\u2019re all going to be tuned in. \u2014 Satou Sabally<\/p>\n<p>The 2020 WNBA Draft begins at 4 p.m. (PT) on Friday, April 17.<\/p>\n"
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Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks

In three years, Satou Sabally has gone from a spot-up shooter who just hung around the three-point line, to the potential No. 2 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.

Oregon women’s basketball head coach Kelly Graves knew how high Sabally’s ceiling could reach and the potential she has on the court. Her WNBA body is one thing, but the game really slowed down for Sabally from year one to year two. 

She capped off her freshman campaign in Eugene, Oregon with Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors, but there was so much more potential and room to grow.

Two years, one Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award, a Final Four appearance and two Pac-12 Championships later, and Sabally’s hard work and determination have paid off.

It would mean so much to me, just being viewed as such a good player, gives me so much joy and happiness, but it also shows that it pays off to work hard every day and just keep grinding. As I said it means a lot to me, mock drafts are still mock drafts, but I’m just so blessed to be able to be on No. 2. — Satou Sabally

Be sure to check out the latest Talkin’ Ducks Podcast with host Jordan Kent and special guest former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck:

The decision to forgo her senior year at Oregon and declare for the WNBA Draft was not easy and weighed on Sabally even after she sent in her papers to the WNBA.

 

There were pros and cons for staying and leaving. If she stayed, she could have one season playing alongside her younger sister Nyara Sabally (who is coming off injury). 

We still don’t know if there will be a WNBA season. It’s kind of risky but on the other hand I also thought that I was ready to leave. This is part of being a professional… I still feel ready to take the challenge and accept it as it is. 

I had the luxury of having an alternative decision of returning back to college and I didn’t take it because ultimately I’m just ready for a new step. — Satou Sabally

The Berlin, Germany native will have video conference support from her family 8,494 km away and nine hours ahead in time. It will be approximately 1 a.m. in Germany when Sabally’s name will be called during the draft.

One of the biggest factors why Sabally did decide to turn pro is her family. She would love to help support her family financially. It was unfortunate that they couldn't fly overseas and attend Satou's "senior" night in Eugene, Oregon following her final game in a Ducks uniform at Matthew Knight Arena, but the cost of doing so is very high. Sabally wants to do what she can to help support her family and the WNBA new CBA sure helps with that. 

Sometimes it’s hard to access ESPN overseas but I hope this time it’s going to be possible so they’re all going to be tuned in. — Satou Sabally

The 2020 WNBA Draft begins at 4 p.m. (PT) on Friday, April 17.