A WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Toronto Tempo was marred by a bizarre incident late in the fourth quarter when Liberty player Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was ejected for throwing a shoe that struck an opposing player. The controversial call came with under two minutes remaining in the Liberty’s 93-91 loss on Sunday.
The Shoe Incident and Ejection
With 1:48 left on the clock and the score tightly contested, Laney-Hamilton’s shoe came off during play. In an attempt to return it to her teammate Jonquel Jones, Laney-Hamilton threw the sneaker across the court. However, the shoe missed its intended target and instead hit Toronto Tempo player Marina Mabrey in the back. Officials reviewed the play and ultimately assessed Laney-Hamilton a technical foul, her second of the game, for launching a projectile onto the court. This resulted in her disqualification from the remainder of the contest.
The ejection occurred at a critical juncture. Following the technical foul, Mabrey made the subsequent free throw, extending Toronto’s lead to 91-89. The New York Liberty, who had staged an impressive comeback from a 20-point deficit, were unable to overcome the late-game disadvantage.
Player and Coach Reactions
The incident was particularly charged given the history between Laney-Hamilton and Mabrey, who had been exchanging words and engaging in heated moments throughout the entire game. Both players had already received a technical foul in the third quarter for their altercations.
New York Liberty coach Chris DeMarco expressed strong disagreement with the officials’ decision. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” DeMarco stated post-game. “We had all the momentum in the world. A shoe hit somebody. Ejected, free throws. I’ve also never seen a ref make such an atrocious call when he’s on the other side of the floor.” He emphasized his belief that Laney-Hamilton’s action was not malicious.
Marina Mabrey, the player struck by the shoe, acknowledged the unusual nature of the event. “I had to take a couple breaths,” she admitted. “But I think she was really just trying to get the shoe back to JJ. But I’ll take the free throw.” Mabrey indicated that she was calmed by officials and teammates after the incident, suggesting she understood Laney-Hamilton’s intent was not to harm her.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton herself maintained that her personal dispute with Mabrey was not worth jeopardizing her team’s chances. “I would never intentionally try to hit someone with a shoe, especially while they’re not looking,” Laney-Hamilton said, according to reports. “Teammate was without a shoe, so I did my best to try and get it to her. Unfortunately, it did hit someone. I know just by the way that things were going throughout the game that it can look a certain way, but that’s just not something that I would personally do… especially in a moment like that where game is on the line.”
Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello, a former coach of the Liberty, also suggested that the shoe hitting Mabrey appeared unintentional. The pool report following the game indicated that the review focused on the shoe hitting Mabrey and the subsequent technical foul, without explicitly detailing intent.
Game Context and Standings
The game itself was a dramatic affair, with the New York Liberty mounting a significant comeback before ultimately falling short. The Liberty, now holding a 13-11 record, are set to play the Dallas Wings next on Thursday. The Toronto Tempo’s victory, despite the unusual circumstances, moved their record to 10-13, marking one of the more memorable wins of their season.
Conclusion
The ejection of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the shoe-throwing incident has sparked debate within the WNBA community regarding intent, officiating, and the consequences of actions taken in the heat of competition. While the Liberty coach and the player involved maintain the act was unintentional, the officials’ ruling led to a crucial free throw for the opposing team and the ejection of a key player, significantly impacting the game’s outcome.
