Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Laney-Hamilton Ejected After Thrown Sneaker Hits Mabrey in Liberty's 93-91 Loss
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 13

Laney-Hamilton Ejected After Thrown Sneaker Hits Mabrey in Liberty's 93-91 Loss

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 13

Summary

  • Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was tossed late in New York's 93-91 loss to Toronto after officials assessed a technical when her thrown sneaker struck Marina Mabrey in the back.
  • The play began when Jonquel Jones lost a shoe; Laney-Hamilton said she was trying to throw it back to her teammate, not hit an opponent.
  • The ejection halted a Liberty comeback after New York entered the fourth quarter down 16, with coach Chris DeMarco calling the whistle "atrocious" and game-changing.
  • Mabrey downplayed the incident after the win, saying Laney-Hamilton was likely just returning the shoe, though she accepted the free throw that followed.
  • The bizarre sequence capped an already testy game in which Laney-Hamilton had earlier drawn a Flagrant 1 during an exchange with Mabrey.

Insights

A sneaker toss decided a key game. Does the WNBA rulebook need a rewrite for bizarre, unintentional acts?
A coach called the ejection 'atrocious'. Will the WNBA fine him or finally address its officiating problem?
With officiating under fire, can the WNBA fix its refereeing crisis before it tarnishes the league's growth?