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Liberty Waive Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Hand Marine Fauthoux a Multiyear Deal
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- Liberty Waive Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Hand Marine Fauthoux a Multiyear Deal
The New York Liberty made their intentions for the future pretty clear, and it wasn't subtle. New York waived Betnijah Laney-Hamilton last Thursday, four days after the August 2 trade deadline had already passed. The franchise immediately turned around and locked up rookie guard Marine Fauthoux on a multiyear deal.
A Tough End for a Franchise Legend
Jun 6, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard-forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) drives past Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Laney-Hamilton's run with the Liberty goes back to 2021, and it's not an exaggeration to call her one of the foundational pieces of that 2024 championship team. Across 126 regular-season games and 108 starts in New York, she averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists, made an All-Star team in 2021, and earned All-Defensive second-team honors in 2023. She sat out all of 2025 recovering from left knee surgery and came back this season hoping to reclaim a role in the game rotation.
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That comeback never really happened. Laney-Hamilton was ejected from a July 11 game against the Lynx after an incident during a matchup. She then drew a second technical in a separate incident involving Toronto 's Marina Mabrey while trying to return a shoe to fellow teammate Jonquel Jones . From there, she became a healthy scratch for eight straight games before New York finally cut her loose, four days after they could have traded her instead.
Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb framed the move as being in Laney-Hamilton's best interest, pointing to a chance for her to find a bigger role somewhere else. Whether that's a genuine gesture or just the standard front-office saying, the outcome is the same: a two-time champion and franchise fixture has found her new home with the Washington Mystics .
Related: WNBA Referees Scrutinized After Controversial Call Against Sophie Cunningham
Fauthoux Earns Her Opportunity
Aug 5, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty Marine Fauthoux (4) and Seattle Storm guard Zia Cooke (7) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The corresponding move is arguably the more interesting one. Fauthoux , a 25-year-old rookie out of France, had been playing on a developmental contract before New York bumped her up to a full multiyear deal. Her season-long numbers are not the most impressive: 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists through 11 games, but her role has clearly expanded since mid-July, and over her last eight appearances she's producing 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists off the bench.
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That's a meaningful jump, and it tells you the Liberty coaching staff likes the progress they're seeing from her, not just the numbers on paper. Committing to a multiyear deal for a player still finding her footing is a huge bet on trajectory, and it suggests head coach Chris DeMarco sees Fauthoux as part of the team's long-term backcourt plans rather than just a depth piece filling out a roster spot.
What This Means for New York
Aug 5, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Members of the New York Liberty Torch Patrol at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Roster moves like this rarely happen, and the timing here says plenty. New York didn't need to make this move immediately after the trade deadline passed, but they did anyway, which suggests the coaching staff had already seen enough from both players to make the call. Laney-Hamilton's legacy in New York isn't going anywhere, and she'll always be part of that first championship banner, but this is a young, forward-looking roster now, and the Liberty are signaling they're comfortable making difficult decisions to build toward it.
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