Liberty Re-Signs Laney Hamilton After Injury Recovery
Almost a year ago, Liberty’s general manager Jonathan Kolb faced a tough decision: he had to withdraw Bethany Rainey Hamilton from the upcoming 2025 season. Her contract was paused since she had just undergone knee surgery and was expected to be out for a significant part of the season.
With Leoni Fievich heading to EuroBasket, Liberty needed a reliable player. They couldn’t risk Hamilton suffering another setback, which made the decision even harder. However, Kolb believed this was the best choice for the long term and reassured Hamilton that the team would support her recovery.
Fast forward thirteen months post-surgery, and Hamilton is back on the team. On Wednesday, Liberty officially re-signed the 6-foot guard/forward for the upcoming season.
The details of her new contract haven’t been disclosed yet.
Hamilton played a crucial role in the 2024 championship team and is recognized as a former All-Star and the Most Improved Player of 2020. She offers invaluable experience, vocal leadership, incredible perimeter defense, relentless toughness, and an ability to hit clutch shots—all elements the team missed last season.
What’s really encouraging is that Kolb mentioned Hamilton is “as healthy as she’s been in years,” which, after a history of at least four knee surgeries since November 2021, is a relief.
Kolb remarked, “Betoniya is a rare player in this league, trusted and respected by his teammates and fan base, but feared by opponents.” He added that her presence enhances everything at both ends of the court and that the WNBA flourishes with her participation. Having her back means a lot for the franchise.
Despite missing 12 games in 2024 due to a right knee injury, she averaged a solid 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. During the regular season, when Hamilton played, Liberty boasted a net rating of 16.1, while without her, they only managed a 7.1.
Hamilton faced a significant setback when she suffered a meniscus tear in her left knee during her first year at Unrivaled in 2025, leading to necessary surgery.
Throughout the last season, she worked behind the scenes, occasionally attending practices and games to cheer on her teammates. However, on Wednesday, she officially signed, ready to rejoin the effort with her fellow players.
This re-signing marks Liberty’s first confirmed move in free agency. The team is also reportedly finalizing deals with key players like Sato Sabally, Sabrina Ionescu, Brianna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones.
In addition, the New York team made several other moves on Wednesday ahead of Hamilton’s announcement.
Noteworthy among these is the re-signing of guard Rebecca Gardner and Chinese center Han Shu to training camp contracts. Gardner had a successful offseason—finally injury-free—averaging 12.8 points on nearly 57% shooting during her time with Athletes Unlimited. She expressed a desire to take on a consistent role this season, although her chances may be tougher with recent signings like Rebecca Allen.
Han, who was drafted by Liberty in 2019, presents a different profile now. At 6-foot-11, she’s grown two inches since her previous stint, potentially becoming the tallest player in WNBA history. She has gained experience competing in China’s WCBA and Australia’s WNBL, where, just this past February, she was named WNBL Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 16.2 points, 7.28 rebounds, and over two blocks a game.
Liberty has also signed Queens-native Ashley Owusu to a training camp contract alongside other rookie signings, including Ugonnu Oniyah, Delin Erdoğan, Niceala Pryor, and Alex Fowler.
Training camp is set to begin on Monday.
