​Betnijah Laney-Hamilton spoke candidly to the media before the New York Liberty fell 88-77 to the Dallas Wings on July 7. It marked her return to action for the first time since June 28, but she was unable to contribute on the scoresheet, finishing with zero points and one assist after going 0-for-5 from the floor. Laney-Hamilton logged 15 minutes in the Liberty’s matchup with Dallas and was asked about her role with the team amid the looming trade deadline on August 2. “We’re working on things,” she said, citing The New York Post’s Madeline Kenney. She added, “I don’t know what everything looks like right now. I’m just trying to take everything one step at a time and stay in the moment. It’s been difficult. But today, right now, I feel pretty good. I just want to be able to focus on the game.”
Laney-Hamilton joined the Liberty in 2021 as a free agent amid a rebuilding phase and later contributed to New York’s first-ever championship in franchise history after Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones joined the team in 2023. The 32-year-old forward played a crucial role in that championship run. She missed the entire 2025 season while rehabbing from knee surgery, and this season she has recorded three did-not-plays (DNPs). When asked about her status, head coach Chris DeMarco expressed confidence in her return. “I still have confidence in her,” DeMarco said on July 5. “She’s going to get her opportunity again. We believe in her.” Laney-Hamilton has been a starter since 2019, and this season she is averaging 4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 34.4 percent from the floor. She has appeared in 15 games, starting five, and has missed seven of the Liberty’s 22 games due to personal reasons and coaches’ decisions.
Despite DeMarco’s faith in his veteran, trade chatter around Laney-Hamilton has started to surface. Some fans speculate about a potential fit with the Las Vegas Aces, though there have been no concrete reports indicating a move. Regardless of the rumors, supporters have voiced their backing for her. Laney-Hamilton reflected on her rehabilitation this season, noting that it helped her regain strength and health. “Physically, I feel better than I felt in a long time,” she told Kenney, adding, “And so just taking it a day at a time, working through everything.”
The Liberty, who won this year’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, currently sit at 13-9 and are sixth in the league standings. Their next four games are on the road, beginning with a rematch against Dallas on July 16. They will first return to action on July 11 at 1:00 p.m. Central Time against the Minnesota Lynx. The team continues to navigate a busy season as it looks to optimize its roster amid ongoing developments.
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