Longtime Liberty player Betnijah Laney-Hamilton waived

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a stalwart of the New York Liberty since 2021, was waived by the team Thursday.

The guard/forward has played 126 regular-season games with New York and was a key component in its 2024 title run.

"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. As a key contributor to the first championship in franchise history, Betnijah's legacy with the Liberty is forever cemented."

Laney-Hamilton's role had been greatly diminished this season under new coach Chris DeMarco. She appeared in only 17 of 32 games, averaging 16.8 minutes and last playing July 12.

DeMarco had not shared many details on why she fell out of the rotation but said that he still had confidence in her and that she was healthy after missing last season with a knee injury.

With Laney-Hamilton waived --just days after Sunday's trade deadline -- the Liberty could look to elevate developmental player Marine Fauthoux to a standard contract. The French rookie can make only one more appearance on a developmental deal before hitting the limit of 12 games. Fauthoux has seen her playing time increase since mid-July and is averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists over her past eight contests.

A 2023 All-Defensive second-team selection and a 2021 All-Star, Laney-Hamilton averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists with the Liberty and was a fan favorite for her grit and toughness. She signed with New York after previous stints with Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana and Atlanta, having won the WNBA Most Improved Player award in 2020.