Unexpected Shoe Incident in WNBA Game
On Sunday, a peculiar moment unfolded in a WNBA match involving the New York Liberty and the Toronto Tempo. Guard Betnijah Laney Hamilton unintentionally struck opponent Marina Mabry in the back with a shoe, just as the game was heating up with a tight score of 93-91.
The chaos began late in the game when Jonquel Jones lost a shoe on the court. In an attempt to return it to her teammate, Laney Hamilton accidentally threw it back incorrectly, hitting Mabry instead. It was a bizarre twist, especially considering that the Liberty were fighting back from a significant 16-point deficit entering the final quarter.
Earlier, Laney Hamilton had already encountered some trouble with Mabry during the game, resulting in a Flagrant 1 foul against her. When the shoe incident happened, officials deemed the action serious enough to issue a technical foul and eject Laney Hamilton from the game.
Defending her actions post-game, Laney Hamilton insisted it was an accident. “I would never try to hit someone with my shoe, especially not without looking,” she explained. “I was just trying to get it to her. It’s unfortunate that it happened, especially with the game so close.” There’s a certain chaos in moments like these, and she seemed aware of the stakes.
Mabry, on the other hand, took the incident with a sense of humor. After the game, she noted, “I had to take a few breaths. I think she was just trying to give the shoe back. But hey, I’ll take the free throws.” It seemed like she was trying to keep a level head despite the odd situation.
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco, however, was less amused. He expressed frustration over the officials’ decision, stating, “I’ve never seen anything like that. We had the momentum, and then the shoe hits someone. This was a poorly made call.” His irritation was palpable as he recounted the strange turn of events.
In the end, it was a wild game marred by an unusual ejection that perhaps altered the outcome for the Liberty. As the dust settled, one couldn’t help but chuckle over the incident—a reminder that in sports, anything can happen, even flying sneakers.
