When we look at basketball stars, it’s easy to forget the winding roads that led them to the pinnacle of professional basketball. In a candid interview with her former Oregon teammate Haley Jones, a Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally opened up about her journey, one that began in Germany with aspirations far beyond borders.

Her journey shed light on the path of what it takes to enter the NBA or the WNBA.

A Dallas forward opens up about her struggles to make it to the WNBA

Haley Jones didn’t hold back when she asked Satou Sabally about her early basketball dreams. The question was simple but profound, did Sabally envision herself as a pro in Europe, representing Germany, or did her aspirations reach across the Atlantic to the United States?

Sabally’s response shed light on the unique challenges she faced growing up with big dreams on foreign soil. “At first, I just wanted to have fun and win all the games.” Sabally began. “So, the further I got, and then it was being a German Champion, you know when you’re like under 14, you get drafted to the national team. And I found out who [the] good players are in Germany and where they go after a while. And some would go in like the first Division.”

The Dallas Wings forward’s journey was far from a smooth, straight line. Detailing her early experiences, she said, “When I was 17 in Freiburg, I already knew I wanted to go to college because I wanted to graduate from college and do sports. And it’s not really easy like that in Germany because we don’t have the same setup.”

The challenges faced by young athletes in Germany became evident, as Sabally explained, “I think when I was younger, I just wanted that experience of being able to study and do sports, and then at some point, I realized, ‘Oh my God, I could go to the league.’ So, that was obviously a dream.”

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Interestingly, While Satou Sabally’s journey from Germany to the WNBA showcases the determination and resilience of a young athlete, there’s another story with German roots and basketball success – that of NBA star and winner of the recently concluded FIBA World Cup, Dennis Schroder.

Dennis Schroder’s journey into the league

Schroder’s basketball career began following a personal tragedy in 2009 when his father died. He and his brother were enthusiastic skateboarders before making their way to the hardwood. With his distinctive playing style and big hands, Schroder was compared to seasoned NBA point guard Rajon Rondo when the Atlanta Hawks selected him as the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.7 points in 13.1 minutes per game in his rookie season.

The following season, Schröder’s tenacity paid off as he experienced a breakout year, averaging 10.0 points and 4.1 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. It was a turning point in his career, demonstrating his ability to adapt and thrive in the demanding NBA environment.

Ten years in the league, Schroder has now helped the German national team win the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

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In a perfect German parallel to Schröder’s journey, Satou Sabally is making her own waves in the world of women’s basketball. Despite her relatively short tenure in the WNBA since joining in 2020, Sabally has already achieved impressive accolades. With 2 WNBA All-Star selections and a consistent presence in the playoffs, she’s proven herself as a dominating figure in the WNBA.

To the two German leaguers – Prost!