The New York Liberty announced on Thursday that they have waived Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, ending her five-season tenure with the franchise. The move comes after a challenging 2026 campaign for the veteran guard-forward, who struggled to maintain her previous form.
Laney-Hamilton initially became a cornerstone for the Liberty in 2021, earning All-Star honors by averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Her arrival in New York followed a breakout stint with the Atlanta Dream, where she was named the league’s Most Improved Player. However, she could not replicate that production, recording one of her worst seasons in 2026 with an average of 4.7 points on 24.3% shooting from beyond the arc.
The roster move stunned WNBA fans, many of whom took to social media to express their frustration. Comments included sharp criticism such as, “Coach must really hate her” and “This is disrespectful!” as supporters questioned the team’s decision to part ways with a player who contributed to their 2024 championship run, during which she averaged 7.0 points on 36.9% shooting across 11 appearances.
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb released a statement on Thursday acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. Kolb stated that while the choice was not easy, the organization believes it will provide the star with better opportunities elsewhere. The franchise expressed gratitude for her impact on the team and wished her the best in her future endeavors.
Here are some of what the fans said.
