Liberty F Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee) could miss season

Field Level Media|published: Tue 1st April, 12:27 2025

WNBA: Finals-New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx

Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) drives past Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) during the second half of game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton will be sidelined for five to six months following knee surgery.

The reigning WNBA champions confirmed Monday that the veteran underwent a procedure in March to repair an acute meniscus injury in her left knee.

The Liberty's regular season runs from May 17 through Sept. 11, putting Laney-Hamilton in danger of missing the entire campaign.

Laney-Hamilton, 31, sustained the injury while competing in the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

She averaged 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28 games (25 starts) for New York during the 2024 regular season. She scored 20 points in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, an 80-66 win that evened the series as the Liberty went on to defeat the Minnesota Lynx in five games for the franchise's first title.

Laney-Hamilton has career averages of 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 234 games (155 starts) with the Chicago Sky (2015-16), Connecticut Sun (2018), Indiana Fever (2019), Atlanta Dream (2020) and Liberty.

She was the league's Most Improved Player in 2020 and made the All-Star team in her first season with New York in 2021. She made the All-Defensive first team in 2020 and the second team in 2023.

--Field Level Media