New York Liberty Lose Star For Season
This is a major blow to the Liberty's hopes at defending their WNBA championship this season. Laney-Hamilton already has undergone surgery for the knee injury in March. She is slotted to be involved in a recovery timeline that ranges between five and six months.
"Our hearts break for Betnijah that she will not be able to take the court this season," Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement, ESPN.com reported. "Betnijah gave us everything last season en route to becoming a WNBA champion. ... We will continue to ensure that she receives the best possible care throughout her rehabilitation process."
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Laney-Hamilton, a 6-foot guard-forward, is a two-time all-WNBA defensive selection. She also was a 2021 WNBA All-Star and earned the league's 2020 Most Improved Player honor.
Knee injuries have sidelined Betinah Laney-Hamilton in recent seasons for New York
This is not the first time that the star player has had to deal with knee injuries. Last season, Laney-Hamilton missed 12 games because of right knee problems. She did average 11.8 points and 4.2 rebounds last season. In the 2023 season, Laney-Hamilton played in the Liberty's entire 40-game regular season. In 2023, though, she only played in nine games because of a right knee injury.
The Liberty have made the decision to suspend Laney-Hamilton's contract. This takes her salary off of the team's cap sheet. It also gives New York room to add a player before the WNBA regular season starts, making sure it has a full 12-player roster ready to go.
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"We are fully confident that she's going to make a full return," Kolb said earlier in May. "She's going to have a great opportunity to be the healthiest she has been in some years."
Laney-Hamilton will be present on Saturday when the Liberty players receive their WNBA championship rings. The team also will raise its championship banner to the Barclays Center rafters.
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