No Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for Liberty in 2025

Injured forward to have contract suspended

May 8, 2025 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is likely to miss the entire 2025 season and have her contract suspended, according to general manager Jonathan Kolb. AP Photo by Pamela Smith

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The New York Liberty are no longer holding out hope that forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton will be back on the Barclays Center hardwood in 2025.

New York general manager Jonathan Kolb admitted over the weekend that the former All-Star would not recover in time from offseason meniscus surgery on her left knee to be part of the Liberty’s quest to repeat as WNBA champions.

“We’re fully confident that she’s going to make a full return, and she’s going to have a great opportunity to be the healthiest she’s been in some years once that happens,” Kolb said as training camp continued in Downtown Brooklyn.

“In terms of this season, I think it’s fair to assume we will be suspending that contract.”

The 31-year-old Hamilton sat out seven weeks last year around the Olympic break while working her way back from surgery to repair the meniscus in her right knee.

She returned with a vengeance in late August and re-assumed her starting role ahead of the playoffs, which the Liberty capped with their first-ever league title and a ride down the Canyon of Heroes.

Brooklyn basketball fanatics who may have been wishful about another comeback this year should look forward to 2026, when New York will have exclusive negotiating rights to bring her back healthy on a new deal.

By suspending this year’s pact, the Liberty will save $185,400 in salary-cap space and open an extra roster spot.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton celebrated the Liberty’s first-ever title in the Canyon of Heroes last fall. She could be back with the team in 2026, but will miss 2025 due to a meniscus injury in her left knee. AP Photo by Seth Wenig

In her fourth season with New York, Laney-Hamilton averaged 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals while logging just over 30 minutes per game in 28 appearances, including 25 starts.

Losing Laney-Hamilton doesn’t mean the Liberty aren’t favorites to pull off back-to-back championships. Las Vegas lists them as the top pick to win another title entering the campaign.

But Laney-Hamilton’s absence will open the door for more playing time from newly acquired forward Isabelle Harrison as well as German sharp-shooter Leonie Fiebich, who started in place of Courtney Vandersloot during last year’s playoffs.

Also, New York boasts plenty of depth behind its Big Three of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu.

Kennedy Burke, Raquel Carrera, Rebekah Gardner, Marquesha Davis, Marine Johannes and Nyara Sabally figure to log more minutes behind the likely starting five of Stewart, Jones, Ionescu, Fiebich and Natasha Cloud.

“I think where we can, we try to build for the future. We try to make things as sustainable as possible,” Kolb said. “I think if you look at our contract layout and who’s under contract for ‘26 and beyond, we’re really happy with those players and excited where we will be kind of starting next year.”

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello made a note Wednesday to point out how versatile her roster is despite the loss of one of Laney-
Hamilton, whom she regularly refers to as the “best two-way player in the league”.

Now a two-time WNBA champion at the helm, Brondello insisted that New York isn’t interested in positions as much as players who can do more than one thing.

“We got versatility. We play more position-less,” she said. “[Stewart] could be the point guard. Doesn’t matter. … Don’t get stuck in a box,

“You’re not just a one, two, three, four or five,” Brondello added. “You’re a basketball player so play accordingly to what you bring to the team.”

The Liberty will open the preseason Friday night at Barclays against the Connecticut Sun. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Breanna Stewart won’t be playing when the Liberty open the preseason vs. Connecticut at Downtown’s Barclays Center Friday night. AP Photo by Abbie Parr

GIVE ME LIBERTY: Stewart, who has just begun participating in full practices following a minor surgery on her right meniscus, won’t log any minutes against the Sun on Friday. The two-time WNBA MVP is expected to begin playing Monday, when New York hosts the Japanese League’s Toyota Antelopes at the University of Oregon. … The Liberty will open the regular season on May 17 in Brooklyn vs. Las Vegas. New York players will receive their championship rings and enjoy a title banner raising ceremony.