Luisa Geiselsöder Emerging for Dallas Wings as Satou Sabally Praises 'Elite' Impact

As Luisa Geiselsöder continues her impressive start with the Dallas Wings, one of her most prominent German national teammates is taking notice.

Satou Sabally, now starring for the Phoenix Mercury after five seasons with Dallas, offered high praise for Geiselsöder’s emergence in the WNBA.

“Yeah, I’ve been saying she needs to be on that team,” Sabally told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So I’m happy that she’s finally here so that all of America can see her talent. She’s really elite, and I’m so proud of her, just how she’s adjusting right away. She had a great season in France and has been really working on her game. The Olympics brought her a lot, too. I’m just happy to see her out there, and I’m really excited to play against her tomorrow.”

Geiselsöder officially reported to the Wings in May, five years after being selected No. 21 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Her arrival was delayed by her extended European career, most recently culminating in a French championship with Basket Landes.

In the 2024–25 season with Basket Landes, Geiselsöder averaged 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 26.8 minutes per game, while shooting 46.7% overall and 35.2% from three-point range. She helped Landes rally from a 0–1 deficit in the finals to win the title, delivering standout performances during the playoff run.

Luisa Geiselsöder Providing Versatile Frontcourt Depth for Dallas

Because of that playoff schedule, Geiselsöder missed the Wings’ training camp. After completing her commitments in France, she joined the Wings in-season and cleared medical and FIBA requirements before making her WNBA debut. Set to depart again to represent the German national team at EuroBasket on June 14, she has embraced the challenge despite being a late arrival and having to leave once more.

“It’s fun. It’s really fun,” Geiselsöder said of her early transition to Dallas and the league. “The girls really welcomed me openly and warmly. It’s new — a little overwhelming in the beginning — but all in all, I feel really comfortable with the girls and the whole organization. It’s amazing.”

Through her first appearances in the 2025 WNBA season, Geiselsöder is averaging 4.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 18.8 minutes per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. On June 6, she recorded her first career WNBA double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against the LA Sparks.

Geiselsöder is adjusting to the differences in WNBA style and rules, including adapting to defensive three-second violations and a faster pace of play. Teammates such as Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers have helped her acclimate, and Wings coaches are excited about her potential.

“The first thing is the defensive three seconds,” Geiselsöder said. “And then everything is just faster. There’s more interaction. In Europe, we have more set plays — you really have your way to go. Here, it’s freer basketball. You can actually show your style and play more.”

Luisa Geiselsöder Embracing Versatile, Connector Role in Dallas Lineup

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes has been encouraged by how quickly Geiselsöder is fitting into the team’s style of play. Her ability to read the floor, move the ball, and make timely decisions has stood out during her first stretch of WNBA action. Whether she’s making decisions as a dribble handoff big, operating in the post, or getting it on the short roll, she’s a smooth decision maker who can knock down open shots and use crafty footwork to create advantages on attacks.

“She’s a smart piece that is a connector on both sides of the floor,” Koclanes said. “We need more ball movers like that.”

In addition to her offensive contributions, Geiselsöder’s defensive versatility has given the Wings valuable flexibility in their frontcourt rotations. Her foot speed at 6-foot-4 has strongly stood out, enabling Dallas to hedge and recover, switch coverages, and provide a disruptive presence as a help defender.

Geiselsöder has demonstrated her ability to defend in multiple coverages, including hedging and recovering in pick-and-roll situations, stepping out to contain ball handlers, and rotating back into position. With quick hands on stunts and strong instincts as a weak-side shot blocker, she is already influencing games defensively in multiple ways.

“It takes chemistry, and I feel like that’s getting better every game,” Geiselsöder said. “We can switch, hedge, trap — we have a lot of tools. I think it’s going to make us even more dangerous.”

Wings general manager Curt Miller has also publicly praised Geiselsöder’s defensive impact and all-around skill set. Miller, who coached against her during international play with USA Basketball, noted that her ability to defend the paint and adapt in space gives the Wings valuable lineup flexibility.

“She’s a really versatile post player,” Miller said. “What stood out to me internationally watching her and preparing for USA Basketball is that she’s an underrated defender around the rim. She can score at multiple levels. She’s talented with her back to the basket, but also can stretch it to three.”

Offensively, coaches have praised Geiselsöder’s ability to stretch the floor with her shooting, provide smart, physical play in the post, and set impactful screens to free up teammates. As she continues to find her rhythm with the team, she is embracing the opportunity to contribute in multiple ways.

“I want to show a little of my footwork in the low post, which I feel really comfortable with,” Geiselsöder said. “And shoot the three when I’m open. But most importantly, I want to help my teammates — setting good screens, making cuts to get them open, making good passes. Just doing what the team needs in that moment.”

Satou Sabally and Luisa Geiselsöder Share German National Team Connection

While both players now compete for different WNBA teams, Sabally and Geiselsöder remain pillars of the German women’s national basketball team. Together, they helped Germany achieve a historic qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics and their best-ever finish at EuroBasket Women 2023.

Sabally has been a member of the German senior team since 2019, leading the squad in scoring en route to their first Olympic berth. She earned All-Second Team honors at the Paris Games, including a 33-point outburst against Japan.

Geiselsöder debuted for Germany in November 2019 and has been a vital interior presence ever since. She made a significant contribution during EuroBasket 2023 and the Olympic qualifiers, serving as Germany’s primary center in Paris.

The connection between Sabally, a versatile forward, and Geiselsöder, a traditional center, has been instrumental in the team’s success. Sabally provides scoring, playmaking, and leadership, while Geiselsöder anchors the paint with her combination of strengths as a stretch big with interior skill and defensive versatility.

Their partnership, alongside core teammates such as Leonie Fiebich and Marie Gülich, has helped elevate Germany into a competitive force in European and global women’s basketball. Sabally has spoken often about the group’s unity and selflessness—qualities that continue to define their on-court chemistry.

Geiselsöder’s WNBA chapter is just beginning, but her early growth and versatile play have already drawn notice from teammates in Dallas to old friends across the league.

“I’m just happy to see her out there,” Sabally said. “And I’m really excited to play against her tomorrow.”