Sandy Brondello doesn’t know anything about the status of star defender Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who missed her second straight game with a right knee injury sustained in the Liberty’s 91-76 win over the Sky.
There is no timeline yet as to whether the versatile guard/forward will return before the Olympic break and whether he has undergone imaging tests on his knee.
“Those are all good questions,” Brondello said Thursday before the game. “I don’t know the answers at this point.”
“They’ll do some procedures to see what’s going on. It’s unfortunate for us,” the Liberty head coach added. “She’s been battling a knee injury, so hopefully she’ll be OK.”
Rainie Hamilton, who is being evaluated day-to-day, was sidelined in June with the same right knee injury and missed both games against the Sparks.
She also suffered a right knee injury in 2022 and underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy surgery for torn meniscal cartilage.
Brondello explained that Laney Hamilton’s knee was swollen on the bus ride to Wednesday’s 71-68 win at Connecticut, so she was also out.
With Lainey Hamilton out for the time being, the Liberty will rely on Leonie Fiebic and Kayla Thornton.
Fiebich, who started in place of Lainie Hamilton on Thursday, planned to ask teammates after warmups how to contain Chennedy Carter, who was averaging 22.8 points and shooting 49 percent from the field over her past five games entering Thursday night’s game at Barclays Center.
“I’ve already played her twice, so as a defender, you always get a good feel for her, you kind of test her tendencies, what her favorite plays are,” Fiebic said. “And right now, she’s playing with a lot of confidence, so it’s just about making her take uncomfortable shots, because that’s the kind of shots she’s going to take. So I just try to take away her favorites and make her take uncomfortable shots.”
“She’s way more active than she was last time we played…” Thornton added, “She’s the main focus now, just understanding that she’s a driver, it’s not just about me and Leo. [Fiebich]”But team defense and blocking the paint and not letting her see the hole, because with a driver like that, once she sees the hole, it’s over.”
Fiebich and Thornton, who normally provide energy off the Liberty bench, thrived in Laney Hamilton’s absence back in June.
Having earned a starting spot more often and established herself as a mainstay in the Liberty’s rotation, Fiebich has improved significantly defensively throughout her rookie season, much of which can be attributed to the tutelage of veteran teammate Lainie Hamilton.
The forward, who previously played for Spanish club Casademont Zaragoza, frequently studies tape of Lainie Hamilton’s defense as she continues to adjust to playing in the WNBA, where she will be called for more fouls than she is accustomed to.
“As far as foul trouble goes … the officiating is different in Europe, the style of play is different,” Fivich said. “So for me it was a bit of a balance. So just watching her, [Laney-Hamilton] And she asks questions here and there, and when it comes to scouting, she asks a lot of questions because she knows the players, she knows the tendencies of the players, she’s been in the league a long time.
“[WNBA officials] “They’re playing to protect their veteran players. If you touch them, it’s a foul, no matter what. So it doesn’t happen in Europe.”
Fivich started for Laney Hamilton in Wednesday’s win over the Sun, recording five points, two rebounds, five assists and one steal in 33 minutes of action.
