Tone setters. Each profitable group wants one.
Former Rutgers College standout Betnijah Laney is simply that for the New York Liberty. Don’t be fooled by her smile. When she steps between the traces, the versatile wing is ready to do no matter it takes to win.
She’s additionally performed a pivotal function in New York snapping the franchise’s postseason streak—for the primary time in over twenty years, the Libs are headed to the WNBA Finals and can match up in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces for the championship.
On each ends of the ground, No. 44 is invaluable. On a roster stacked with superstars, together with two former MVPs, the Delaware-native is a bit the Liberty can not do with out. Laney netted 20 or extra factors in every of the ultimate three contests of the WNBA Semifinals in opposition to the Connecticut Solar.
Betnijah Laney and the Liberty starred on the duvet of SLAM 246. Learn the duvet story right here.
Together with her group’s again in opposition to the wall on its residence ground in Sport 2, the previous second-round choice confirmed up. In a must-win recreation, Laney linked on 5 pictures from past the arc, probably the most she has transformed in any recreation of her profession—two of which got here within the closing three minutes of the fourth quarter.
Via the primary two rounds of the playoffs, Laney sits within the top-two of New York’s discipline aim proportion, three pointers made, and complete factors. Solely three gamers within the postseason have contributed to extra factors within the painted space than the 2020 WNBA Most Improved Participant.
She was one among simply seven gamers in all the W this season to have a three-point taking pictures proportion over 39 % whereas taking 1.5 or extra threes per contest. The nook is her area. The result’s nearly inevitable for those who fail to shut her out.
“B’s constructed like this,” Brondello mentioned following the clincher in Connecticut, “I do know it was a little bit little bit of a course of early within the season. We have been making an attempt to work it out the way it all mixed, however I believe we took off once we discovered “B” getting extra built-in into the offense as a result of she’s a tremendous scorer. We simply didn’t need it to simply be “B” the defensive participant.”
The defensive facet of the ball is the a part of the sport what she is finest recognized for. In a sequence in opposition to a traditionally prolific Aces’ offense, Laney’s means to protect multiple place can be important.
The 2023 Commissioner’s Cup Last was an ideal instance of what she will do on that finish of the ground in opposition to Las Vegas. The 6-foot wing was tasked with the accountability of predominately guarding Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Grey—within the third quarter, No. 44 was locked in when taking part in halfcourt protection on Plum in isolation, and took on the duty of marking up Grey full-court after a Stewart three.
“Whether or not its guarding the opposite group’s finest participant, or making performs, she is somebody who is aware of what she is sweet at,” Stewart mentioned about Laney following a win over Washington. “To have the ability to have her on our facet is big for us. She continues to maintain taking part in, giving us that sense of readability when occasions get powerful.”
Motion picture through Getty Photographs. Portraits by Marcus Stevens
