Betnijah Laney-Hamilton still with Liberty after trade deadline as she admits her benching has been ‘a lot’

The trade deadline has passed.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is still in Brooklyn. 

But the emotional toll of so much uncertainty has left a mark on the Liberty’s second-longest-tenured player (since 2021).

“It’s just a lot,” Laney-Hamilton told The Post before Monday’s game against the Storm. “I don’t have enough time to go through it right now, but definitely a lot of ups and downs.” 

The former All-Star — and starter on the 2024 title team, who missed all of last season with a knee injury — entered Monday firmly on the outside of first-year coach Chris DeMarco’s rotation, having gone six straight games without leaving the bench.

Laney-Hamilton hadn’t seen the court since being ejected for throwing a shoe in the July 12 loss in Toronto, and she said she doesn’t know what her role will be going forward.

Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings collides into Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty during a regular season matchup at Barclays Center on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post

In recent weeks, DeMarco said he still had confidence in Laney-Hamilton, noting that she would get more opportunities to see the floor.

But following Monday morning’s shootaround, the coach sounded far less likely to give her an extended look anytime soon.

“It’s gonna be game to game,” DeMarco said. “We’re gonna look at everything.”

Laney-Hamilton, who signed a one-year, $400,000 contract in April, began the season in a starting role, but entered Monday having appeared in just 17 of the team’s 30 games.

She received her first DNP-CD on June 21, then another in the Commissioner’s Cup championship win over the Aces.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty warms up prior to a game against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Barclays Center. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post

Laney-Hamilton has played her fewest minutes (16.8) in eight years — two years after averaging more than 30 minutes per game for a title team.

The 32-year-old’s post-injury play hasn’t helped her case for more minutes.

Entering Monday, Laney-Hamilton was averaging 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while shooting 36.2 percent from the field (24.3 percent on 3-pointers).

But she may still have a role to play.

“She’s a great player and she’s had a really successful career in the WNBA,” Breanna Stewart said. “Knowing what she can give us on and off the court at all times is really important and special. Even just the way she’s communicating at halftime and giving players options or ideas is really important. For me, that’s advice that I want to hear.”