Anneli Maley received an unexpected full-season contract from the New York Liberty on September 3 after Satou Sabally was ruled out for the season with a head injury. Initially confused by a voice message from general manager Jonathan Kolb, Maley realized she had been promoted from her developmental player status to a full roster spot just days before turning 28. The article highlights Maley’s journey through multiple rejections and brief stints with other teams, emphasizing her resilience and the Liberty's recognition of her contributions both on and off the court.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Anneli Maley, a developmental player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA, received a surprise promotion to a full-season contract on September 3 after Satou Sabally was ruled out for the season due to a head injury. Initially misunderstanding the news from Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb, Maley thought she had been let go before realizing her contract was being upgraded. She expressed gratitude and excitement about the unexpected career boost, emphasizing how it felt like "a grieving process" followed by a realization of good fortune. This move highlights the team's commitment to developing talent within its organization.
Written for “Liberty Sign Pitcher Maley” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Anneli Maley thought her time with the Liberty was over.
asserted
time → think → Liberty
For 10 minutes, she stared at her phone almost in disbelief at the lengthy voice memo she had just received from Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb.
asserted
she → star → Kolb
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asserted
you → get → things
tRY IT NOWFor some reason, she tuned out the first 45 seconds of the message.
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she → try → message
The only part that stuck was the end, when Kolb mentioned “we’re getting another [developmental player].”
asserted
we → stick → player
“I was like, ‘I’ve been fired,’” she recalled on Wednesday.
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she → fire → Wednesday
Eventually, she listened to the message again and realized it was quite the opposite.
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it → listen → message
With Satou Sabally officially ruled out for the season with a head injury, the Liberty had an open roster spot and chose to convert Maley’s developmental contract into a full-season deal Sept. 3.
“I didn’t understand at all at first,” Maley said, speaking to reporters for the first time since getting a new deal.
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Maley → rule → deal
“It was like a grieving process, and then I was like, ‘Oh no, wait, I’ve been promoted!’
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I → wait → process
I feel very, very blessed and lucky.
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I → feel → ?
I’ve been working so hard.”
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I → work → ?
Maley’s first full-season WNBA contract, signed two days after she turned 28, is a testament to her determination and relentless pursuit of her goal.
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she → sign → goal
Maley played only two years of college basketball.
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Maley → play → basketball
She was never drafted into the WNBA.
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She → draft → WNBA
She got her first taste of the WNBA in 2022 with the Chicago Sky, who brought her back as a temporary hardship player after training camp.
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who → get → camp
She had been waived or released seven times.
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She → waive → ?
Maley made an interesting case for the Liberty’s final roster spot at this year’s training camp.
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Maley → make → camp
Ultimately, New York went another direction.
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York → go → direction
After a brief stint with the Phoenix Mercury, the Liberty brought Maley back as a developmental player.
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Liberty → bring → player
She had been working closely with director of basketball strategy Parker Lovett.
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She → work → strategy
She put in countless hours behind the scenes training both solo and with the practice squad.
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She → put → squad
The job of a developmental player can often be overlooked and underappreciated.
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job → overlook → player
But Jonquel Jones said Maley’s positive mindset was refreshing.
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mindset → say → ?
“She’s one of those people that can keep things light when sometimes things can feel a little bit heavy,” Jones said.
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Jones → ’ → things
“You can’t really talk about how important that is when you’re going through the course of a season.”
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you → talk → season
Maley has always prided herself on her defense and rebounding.
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Maley → pride → defense
She believes her biggest growth this season has been on the offensive end.
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growth → believe → end
With Maley’s promotion, the Liberty filled their open developmental spot with former Ole Miss wing Madison Scott.
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Liberty → fill → Scott
Scott reached out to Maley about what to expect from the opportunity.
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Scott → reach → opportunity
“I don’t have to lie, I can say: ‘You know what, they really pour into you.
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they → have → you
They take care of you.
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They → take → you
They value you as a human, and you will get better,’” Maley said.
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Maley → value → human
“It’s hard, but it’s rewarding.”
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it → ’ → ?
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