Bethonia Rainey Hamilton experienced the thrill of victory from the bench as the Liberty clinched the Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday.
She celebrated with her teammates, dancing and enjoying a champagne-infused gathering.
“Winning a championship is always something special. It’s not just a win for us but for the entire community and fan base,” said Laney Hamilton after practice on Thursday. “And it’s uplifting for the organization as well. It felt really meaningful, especially since it was for a good cause. Anytime you can achieve something like that, I think it’s a win-win situation.”
This last Tuesday marked the second occasion in under two weeks where Laney Hamilton found herself sitting on the bench ahead of a game.
Coach Chris DeMarco mentioned that Laney Hamilton was “healthy,” but due to A’ja Wilson’s foot injury, he decided to keep her benched, uncertain about the best strategic approach.
“We made some adjustments to our player rotation tonight,” DeMarco commented after their 93-85 victory. “But she remains a crucial part of our plans moving forward.”
When asked Thursday about whether they had gone over DeMarco’s rotation strategy prior to the championship game, Laney Hamilton simply shook her head slightly.
This season has been quite challenging for Rainey Hamilton. After sitting out last season to recover from knee surgery, she started this year in better shape than ever.
However, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Her role has shifted—she’s gone from starting games to coming off the bench. Early in the season, she missed some time due to personal matters and again after receiving an injection in her knee, which had previously undergone surgery.
Before the season kicked off, Laney Hamilton signed a one-year deal worth $400,000 with the Liberty, hoping for a more lucrative offer next season.
Currently, she’s averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 14 games, with five starts, marking her lowest stats since 2018.
Laney Hamilton is vital for the Liberty. She’s contributed immensely to the team, and during the 2024 WNBA Finals, she expressed her determination to keep playing “until the wheels fell off.”
Through her resilience, she played a key role in securing the championship. Last season, her leadership was greatly missed.
Today, she faces a different set of challenges, yet she keeps demonstrating her commitment.
After practice, Laney Hamilton took a moment to express gratitude to her supporters.
“I just want to say thank you,” she started. “Thank you for being there, for your support.”
While she wanted to elaborate further, her emotions took over.
Lynx coach Sheryl Reeve has an opportunity to make history on Friday.
Having tied Mike Thibault for the WNBA record for most career wins earlier this week when the Minnesota Lynx triumphed over the Dallas Wings, this was Reeve’s 379th win in her 17 seasons with the team.
The next victory will place her as the winningest coach in WNBA history. Her upcoming challenge is against the Liberty, a team she knows quite well.
Marine Johannes was absent from Thursday’s practice due to illness.
DeMarco stated, “We anticipate her playing tomorrow against the Lynx.”
