NEW YORK — The New York Liberty waived veteran guard-forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton on Thursday, the team announced, ending a five-year run in which she emerged as a consistent contributor and a fan favorite.
Laney-Hamilton joined the Liberty in 2021 and was a steady presence through the club’s rise to the franchise’s first WNBA championship in 2024. But this season her minutes and role shrank under coach Chris DeMarco. She appeared in just 17 of 32 games and last played on July 12.
“We want to thank Betnijah for everything she has given to this organization,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “She has been an instrumental part of our success since 2021 and has made a lasting impact on our team, both on and off the court. We're incredibly grateful for her professionalism, leadership, and the commitment she brought to the New York Liberty every day. While this decision is incredibly difficult, we believe this will give Betnijah the best opportunity to pursue a larger basketball role. We wish her nothing but success moving forward, and she'll always be a member of the Liberty family.”
From starter to limited minutes
Laney-Hamilton’s statistical footprint with the Liberty includes 126 regular-season games and season-by-season contributions that made her a reliable two-way player. Over her tenure in New York she averaged about 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, according to team summaries. Before joining the Liberty she had stops in Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana and Atlanta and had been recognized as the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2020.
This season, however, under DeMarco her minutes were substantially reduced. She averaged 16.8 minutes per game in the appearances she did make. The coach has not publicly detailed the reasons for the change in rotation, though he has said she was healthy after missing the previous season with a knee injury.
Roster consequences and opportunity for youth
The move comes days after the WNBA trade deadline and leaves the Liberty with a vacancy that could be filled in-house. The organization could convert rookie guard Marine Fauthoux from a developmental contract to a standard roster deal. The French guard has seen an increase in playing time since mid-July and has produced modest numbers in recent games.
- Marine Fauthoux: averaging roughly 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists over her past eight appearances.
- Laney-Hamilton: veteran presence, championship contributor, now a free agent.
- Liberty coaching staff: shifting rotation under Chris DeMarco this season.
Fauthoux can only make one more appearance on a developmental deal before the limit of 12 games is reached, so the timing suggests the club may promote her if it wants to keep her available for the remainder of the season.
Career snapshot
Laney-Hamilton’s professional arc is notable for its late bloom and for versatility. She earned All-Defensive second-team honors in 2023 and was an All-Star in 2021. Her hands-on, gritty style made her a neighborhood favorite at home games.
| Stat | With Liberty (career) |
|---|---|
| Regular-season games | 126 |
| Season averages (NY) | 12.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.2 APG |
| 2026 season (to date) | 17 of 32 games, 16.8 MPG |
What it means for the Liberty and for Laney-Hamilton
The Liberty framed the move as mutually beneficial: a chance for Laney-Hamilton to pursue a larger role elsewhere and for the team to open a spot for a younger player who is carving out minutes. But roster changes like this also reflect an organization balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term development.
For fans, the news severs a recent tie to the club’s championship identity. For Laney-Hamilton, it presents the uncertain terrain all free agents face: finding a team that values the kind of defense-first toughness she brings and offers substantive playing time.
The Liberty’s next steps will be watched closely in practice reports and transaction logs. If the club promotes Fauthoux, she will inherit more of the ball-handling and perimeter responsibilities that Laney-Hamilton provided at times. Otherwise, the Liberty could pursue external signings before the roster deadline.
Either way, the decision underlines how quickly roles can change in the WNBA and how franchises recalibrate the roster arithmetic even midseason after a championship run.
— New York correspondent Vikram Chandra
