Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a 2024 WNBA champion, just got claimed off waivers by the Washington Mystics. This move is wild, especially when you consider where the Mystics are right now. They’re sitting at 19-14, which is good for eighth in the WNBA standings, and they’ve got a six-game cushion on the closest team fighting for that final playoff spot. Coach Sydney Johnson and his squad have already found a recipe to compete, turning a season that started with a ton of questions into one with new, welcome questions about a playoff run.
New York Let Her Go, But Why?
So, why’d the New York Liberty let a champion go, you ask? It’s the elephant in the room. This is a player who was a long-time starter under Sandy Brondello, an All-Star in 2021 after averaging over 16 points in back-to-back seasons. She was known as one of the league’s more consistent floor spacers and wing defenders, which is always valuable. But Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has been through it. She missed the entire 2025 campaign recovering from a meniscus tear, and she’s 11 years into her WNBA career, with 253 games played plus time overseas. That’s a lot of wear and tear.
This season with first-year Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco, the numbers just weren’t there. In 17 games, she struggled to hit shots, particularly from deep, shooting a measly 24 percent from three-point range, even though over half her field goal attempts came from distance. Her assist-to-turnover ratio was even for the first time since her rookie year, meaning that crucial off-ball playmaking wasn’t connecting like it used to. The Liberty, sitting pretty at 21-14 and well within title contention, just felt her minutes could be better used elsewhere.
What BLH Still Brings To DC
Even with the recent struggles, this move could be huge for the Mystics. Why? Experience, plain and simple. While Sydney Johnson’s team has figured out how to win, they’ve been missing that veteran presence, someone who can guide their young first and second-year stars when things get tight in the playoffs. Laney-Hamilton isn’t just a veteran, she’s a WNBA champion, the only player on the Mystics roster with that title. She knows what it takes to navigate the postseason grind.
Her past reputation as a consistent floor spacer and wing defender is still valuable. If Coach Johnson can help her rediscover even a fraction of that form, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton instantly becomes a major asset. The Mystics have their Saturday night game against the Los Angeles Sparks coming up, and all eyes will be on how this champion fits in. Can she overcome her recent dip in form and become the playoff leader Washington needs? It’s high stakes, and it’s going to be a fascinating story to follow.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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