Head coach Chris DeMarco said former Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sought “other opportunities” before the two parties split on Thursday. 

DeMarco, publicly speaking for the first time since the team waived Laney-Hamilton, praised her for how she handled the situation even after expressing her desire near the beginning of the WNBA season.

“She’s been great. She’s been great,” DeMarco said after Saturday’s practice at Barclays Center. “Even when she wasn’t in the rotation, just her leadership in the huddles, her leadership off the floor and everything, really good. I think for her, even at the start of the season, she had expressed [if] there’s other opportunities that she wanted to look at those.

“And then it came to the point where, just as a team, like we all understood what this is and what we were trying to accomplish. And for her, it was just trying to find her the right place where she can succeed and feel good, and then hopefully that happens. We have confidence that that will happen.”

The team announced they waived Laney-Hamilton after five seasons (she missed the 2025 season after undergoing meniscus surgery) with the Liberty on Thursday. On Saturday, the guard landed on the Washington Mystics’ roster after being awarded to the franchise on waivers, per WNBA Transactions page.

Laney-Hamilton arrived in New York in 2021 after a resurgent 2020 season in which she won the Most Improved Player award as a member of the Atlanta Dream.

Her arrival to New York came as the team entered a new era, making Barclays Center the official site for home games. Her lone All-Star Game appearance came in the 2021 season and she helped lift the franchise to its very first WNBA title in 2024.

Her release preceded a turbulent 2026 WNBA season with the Liberty as she returned from surgery to repair a torn left meniscus, which DeMarco acknowledged was a difficult situation for her ex-player.

“I don’t think it’s talked about enough how hard it is for players and [taking] that year off and trying to rehab like — same gym, same routine. Like it’s a lot goes into it. It’s hard mentally sometimes too. I’m not going to speak for [Betnijah]. Just as my experience working with athletes who’ve come off of ACL [injuries], Achilles, other injuries. Like it’s very taxing. It’s just not the same.”

The usual Liberty lineup mainstay started just five games in 2026 and missed time due to personal reasons. After her minutes hovered near 30 per game in previous seasons with the team, it dropped to 16.8 before falling completely out of DeMarco’s lineup.

She averaged 4.7 points in 17 games with the Liberty this season.

The veteran had been a healthy scratch in eight consecutive games before leaving the team.

“She’s been the heart of this team well even before I got here, and I think that it’s really sad to see her go, and I know a lot of people are having that similar sentiment,” said Breanna Stewart, who joined the Liberty during the 2023 offseason.

“But also, ready for her to see where her next stop is. You know what I mean? Like to put a positive spin on it. Like it’s not a goodbye. It’s a see you later. She’s just been someone who’s uplifting, even when she’s not been on the court while dealing with injury. She’s a bright spot that we’ll definitely miss.”

DeMarco said he was in communication with Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb “the whole time” regarding Laney-Hamilton’s situation. Stewart was also aware of her teammate’s wish to pursue a larger role elsewhere, too.

“She’s just ready to kind of turn the page, and that’s OK,” said Stewart, who credited Laney-Hamilton for being “present” and “supportive” throughout the season.

DeMarco declined to share what didn’t work out between Laney-Hamilton and the team before pursuing a deal on the trade market. The team reportedly shopped the guard’s $400,000 contract, but failed to get a deal done before last Sunday’s trade deadline.

“I know it was really difficult trying to find the right trade partners for her, and so in the end, we still wanted to give her that opportunity where she’s able to contribute and have a larger role, and that’s why we got to this point,” the head coach said.

Laney-Hamilton’s friendships will continue despite the guard expected to join another WNBA team. Stewart, who played with Laney-Hamilton during their teenage days with USA Basketball, said “our relationship goes beyond the Liberty” and “I’ll still be in her corner.”

“Like I said, that’s my sister. So you know, I’m gonna always be there for her in whatever aspect I can be,” said Jonquel Jones.