13 July 2026SideLine · sports news, rewritten
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Basketball

Laney-Hamilton Ejected After Throwing Shoe in Liberty's Close Loss to Mystics

By SideLine Desk ·
Laney-Hamilton Ejected After Throwing Shoe in Liberty's Close Loss to Mystics
Illustration: SideLine

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty was ejected from their game against the Toronto Mystics in the final minutes of a close 2-point loss. The incident occurred after Laney-Hamilton threw Jonquel Jones' shoe at Marina Mabrey. Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referees' handling of the game's conclusion.

The New York Liberty suffered a heart-breaking 2-point loss to the Toronto Mystics, a defeat compounded by the ejection of key player Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in the closing stages. The dramatic moment saw Laney-Hamilton removed from the contest after she threw an opposing player's shoe in what was a tense situation.

The incident involving Laney-Hamilton, who was sent off for her actions, took place as the game hung in the balance. This late-game disruption clearly impacted the Liberty's ability to mount a final charge, contributing to their inability to overcome the Mystics' slim lead.

Following the game, Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco did not hold back in his assessment of the officiating. He publicly stated his belief that the referees managed the end of the game poorly, suggesting their decisions contributed significantly to the outcome and the controversial ejection.

💬 SideLine Take

Throwing an opponent's shoe is a uniquely bizarre act of frustration that warrants a strong penalty, but it's hard to ignore the coach's plea for a fairer officiating finish, especially in a tight contest.

AI-assisted rewrite. This story was written by the SideLine Desk from the reporting below and reviewed by our editors — read the original for the full story. How we work.
Source: Yahoo Sports

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