Liberty Star to Miss Most of 2025 Season Due to Meniscus Injury
The New York Liberty will be without their star player for most of the 2025 WNBA season. The defending champions announced that Betnijah Laney-Hamilton recently underwent successful surgery on her left knee to repair an acute meniscus injury. Laney-Hamilton sustained the injury during the Unrivaled Basketball League this past WNBA offseason. She is expected to be out for five to six months, making her future for the upcoming season uncertain.
Laney-Hamilton, 31, is one of the longest-tenured players on the Liberty, having joined the team in 2021. The Rutgers alum has established herself as a pivotal piece of the New York Liberty's recent success. Over her four seasons, she has averaged 13.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Laney-Hamilton brings a wealth of experience and accolades to the table, including being named the WNBA Most Improved Player in 2020, a WNBA all-star in 2021, and a WNBA Champion in 2024. She has also been selected to the WNBA All-Defensive Team twice, in 2020 and 2023. This injury marks another setback for Laney-Hamilton, who missed 10 games last season due to knee issues. The Liberty now faces the challenge of defending their championship without one of their most important contributors, making the upcoming season all the more uncertain.
The Liberty are set to begin WNBA Training Camp on April 27th, ahead of their season opener on May 17th against the Las Vegas Aces. With Laney-Hamilton’s return uncertain, the Liberty will be looking for production from other players to fill the void. Leonie Fiebich is likely to start at small forward after impressing as a rookie last season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc. Given her strong postseason performance, she was already poised for a larger role this season, and with Laney-Hamilton’s injury, Fiebich will now be a regular starter. Additionally, the New York Liberty recently traded for Natasha Cloud, a nine-year veteran with championship experience. With Laney-Hamilton’s future uncertain, Cloud will now play an even bigger role as the Liberty aim to defend their title. While Laney-Hamilton’s absence leaves a significant gap, the Liberty still have the talent and depth to stay competitive and continue their championship pursuit.
