Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a player for the New York Liberty, found herself at the centre of controversy during a WNBA game against the Toronto Tempo on 12 July after being ejected for throwing a shoe that struck a rival player. The incident occurred in the final moments of the match, leading to significant ramifications for both teams and a heated discussion about the officiating.
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As the clock ticked down to under two minutes, Liberty centre Jonquel Jones lost her shoe during a play. In an attempt to retrieve it, Laney-Hamilton, 32, picked up the shoe and aimed to toss it back to her teammate. However, in an unforeseen twist, the shoe ended up hitting Toronto guard Marina Mabrey in the back, prompting officials to issue a technical foul against Laney-Hamilton. This marked her second technical of the game, leading to her ejection, which raised eyebrows among spectators and players alike.
After the game, Laney-Hamilton expressed her disbelief over the referee’s decision and insisted that the incident was purely accidental. “I would never intentionally try to hit someone with a shoe, especially while they’re not looking,” she explained. “Teammate was without a shoe, so I did my best to try and get it to her. Unfortunately, it did hit someone.” Laney-Hamilton further emphasised the tension of the situation, stating that perceptions of the incident could be misleading given the high stakes of the game.
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco echoed Laney-Hamilton’s sentiments, describing the officiating call as “atrocious.” He contended that the decision could have serious ramifications for the game, particularly since momentum was strongly in favour of the Liberty prior to the ejection. “She’s trying to get the shoe back to JJ. It hit somebody. I think we’re just making stuff up,” DeMarco added, reflecting his frustration with the officiating crew’s handling of the matter.
Following the technical foul, Mabrey converted the free throw opportunity, allowing the Tempo to regain a narrow lead at 91-89. Reflecting on the unusual event, Mabrey admitted to being momentarily taken aback when the shoe hit her. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that she believed Laney-Hamilton was merely trying to assist her teammate, making light of the situation as she took the free throw that could have crucial consequences for the game.
In the wake of the incident, officiating crew member Kevin Fahy clarified the rationale for Laney-Hamilton’s ejection. He explained to reporters that the decision was made because Laney-Hamilton had indeed thrown the shoe in a way that constituted a violation. “She picked up a shoe and threw it at Marina Mabrey, and it hit Marina in the back, so she received her second technical foul and subsequently was ejected from the basketball game,” he stated.
Despite the setback for the Liberty, they managed to tie the game shortly after Mabrey’s free throw, thanks to a shot from forward Breanna Stewart. However, the Tempo ultimately secured victory with a critical layup from Nyara Sabally, ending the game with a score of 93-91.
Toronto coach Sandy Brondello expressed pride in her team’s performance, particularly in overcoming the chaotic atmosphere of the closing moments. “It was a little scary there in the fourth,” she remarked. “This team’s resilient. We’ve been in so many games, so it’s nice for us to get a win.” Brondello defended her team’s defensive efforts, despite admitting that the referees had begun to call fouls against the Liberty in the game’s closing stages.
The incident has reignited debates about officiating standards within the WNBA, particularly regarding what constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct. DeMarco’s public criticism of the officiating decisions has placed additional scrutiny on the league’s rules governing player conduct and the interpretation of intent during games.
As discussions continue, both teams are reflecting on the impact of the incident and preparing for their next encounters, with the Liberty determined to bounce back from their recent defeats and the Tempo riding high on their victory.