Laney-Hamilton Shines in Liberty's Victory Over Lynx, Evening WNBA Finals 1-1
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has been on the comeback trail for the past six weeks after undergoing surgery on her right knee.
On Sunday, the Liberty guard looked like her old self, dropping 20 points in New York’s 80-66 victory over Minnesota, which tied the WNBA Finals series at 1-1.
“Everyone has seen her struggle, but she’s been feeling great these last few days, that’s for sure,” said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello. “We knew it would take some time. We’ve given her plenty of rest, and she was ready to hit the court. She puts in the effort. She’s tough, and we’ve talked about the grit she brings to the team.”
Laney-Hamilton, who had her knee surgery on July 16 and made her return on August 26, mentioned that she felt great after making her first drive of the game. The former Rutgers standout shared that she had “a little bit of everything” done to get her knee back in shape.
“I think this gives me some momentum as we move through the series,” Laney-Hamilton said, reflecting on her five-point performance in the initial loss. “I’ve been dealing with physical and mental challenges throughout this process... but I’m finally starting to feel good and make the most of it.”
Laney-Hamilton, with her college coach C. Vivian Stringer cheering her on, really brings a lot to New York when she's in good shape, both offensively and defensively.
“We definitely felt her absence; she’s got that grit and is such a fierce competitor. She always took on the toughest opponent, and now with Leo on the team, we’ve got a solid defensive lineup. But we also miss her ability to create plays,” Brondello mentioned. “We’ve been focusing on helping her become more of a playmaker this season, but it’s tough when she’s dealing with that knee issue. First, she needs to regain her confidence, and then she can really shine.”
When Minnesota closed the gap to 68-66 with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Laney-Hamilton kicked off a decisive 12-0 run with a corner three-pointer, giving New York a lead they held onto.
“She’s a game-changer because she contributes on both ends and plays with intensity; she’s a true winner,” Brondello said. “I’m thrilled she had a great game tonight and can keep building on that.”
After the game, Laney-Hamilton even got to meet Jennifer Hudson, who was eager to connect with her. They shared a few moments together after the victory.
SportsLigue