The New York Liberty has waived veteran guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, ending her six-season tenure with the team. The decision comes as the Liberty prepares to face the Las Vegas Aces, a rematch of the Commissioner's Cup title game.
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco stated that the move was made to provide Laney-Hamilton with an opportunity to contribute in a more significant capacity. "She meant a lot to this organization and still does," DeMarco said. "I know it was really difficult trying to find the right trade partners for her and still in the end, we wanted to give her an opportunity where she’s able to contribute and have a larger role and that’s why we got to this point."
Laney-Hamilton, a starter on the Liberty's 2024 championship team, had a difficult season following a knee injury that caused her to miss the entire previous year. Despite starting the season, she had fallen out of the rotation in recent weeks, averaging career-low minutes and points.
"Coming off a major injury … it was a tough year all-around for her," DeMarco explained. "It’s just one of those things where she felt like she wanted another opportunity and we did our best to try to help her."
Laney-Hamilton was claimed off waivers by the Washington Mystics on Saturday, the day after her release from the Liberty. Her departure creates a void for the Liberty, with players like Breanna Stewart expressing sadness over losing a valued teammate. "She’s been the heart of this team even well before I got here, and I think that it’s really sad to see her go," Stewart said. "She’s just been someone who’s uplifting, even when she’s not been on the court while dealing with injury, and she’s a bright spot that we’ll definitely miss."
The Liberty's decision to waive Laney-Hamilton also allowed them to sign developmental player Marine Fauthoux to a multi-year contract, though DeMarco acknowledged that Laney-Hamilton's presence will be missed. The team is set to play the Aces on Sunday at Barclays Center.