The New York Liberty have released Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, the team announced Thursday. The move comes after Laney-Hamilton was a healthy scratch for eight consecutive games and four days after the WNBA trade deadline.
Laney-Hamilton, a former All-Star and a starter on the Liberty's 2024 championship team, struggled to find her footing this season following knee surgery that caused her to miss the entire 2025 season. She last played on July 12, when she was ejected from a game after throwing a shoe.
Signed to a one-year, $400,000 contract in April, Laney-Hamilton began the season as a starter but had appeared in only 17 of the Liberty's 30 games prior to Thursday's announcement. The team is expected to use the open roster spot to sign French guard Marine Fauthoux to a multiyear deal.
In a statement, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb described the decision as "incredibly difficult." He added that the move would provide Laney-Hamilton "the best opportunity to pursue a larger basketball role" and wished her success moving forward. Kolb also acknowledged her significant contributions to the franchise's first championship, stating her legacy with the Liberty is "forever cemented."
Laney-Hamilton joined the Liberty in 2021, making her the team's second-longest-tenured player. The team expressed gratitude for her "professionalism, leadership, and the commitment she brought to the New York Liberty every day."