New York Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was ejected from a game against the Toronto Tempo after throwing a shoe that struck Marina Mabrey.
The incident marks a volatile conclusion to a closely contested matchup, highlighting the high tension and physical nature of the rivalry between the two teams.
The ejection occurred during a Sunday afternoon game on July 7, 2024 [1]. Laney-Hamilton threw a shoe belonging to teammate Jonquel Jones, which hit Mabrey [2]. Officials removed the Liberty guard from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct [3].
This event followed an earlier confrontation in the same game. Laney-Hamilton had been assessed a flagrant-1 foul after her arm hit Mabrey in the face [4]. The escalating tension contributed to a chaotic environment on the court.
"I didn’t mean to hit her – I just threw the shoe after I lost it," Laney-Hamilton said [5].
The Liberty ultimately lost the game with a final score of 93-91 [6]. The team suffered a defeat by a margin of two points [7].
New York Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco reacted to the sequence of events during the closing moments of the contest. "It was an atrocious end of that game," DeMarco said [8].
“"It was an atrocious end of that game."”
The ejection of a star player in a two-point game underscores how emotional volatility can directly impact team performance and outcome. This incident, coupled with the earlier flagrant foul, suggests a recurring friction between Laney-Hamilton and Mabrey that may lead to further league scrutiny or disciplinary action beyond the immediate game ejection.
