Betnijah Laney-Hamilton opens up on difficult Liberty role uncertainty as WNBA trade deadline looms

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is not the type of player who’s going to publicly complain.She has a team-first mentality.But this season has been tough.

It’s challenged her in ways she hadn’t necessarily expected.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.She’d done her best to mask any dissatisfaction she may feel regarding her fluctuating role.

But Laney-Hamilton also can’t deny that she wants to play.“Just as a competitor and everything, as somebody who’s worked really hard, somebody who’s been a part of the organization for a long time, it’s … it can sometimes be disappointing and frustrating,” Laney-Hamilton said of her role Tuesday before the Liberty’s game against the Dallas Wings.“But that’s also part of the process.

So like I said, I’m just trying to — as much as possible — just come out, be the best version of myself within the circumstances.” Laney-Hamilton missed all of last season rehabbing from knee surgery.She put in a lot of work behind the scenes so she could enter this year the healthiest she had been for quite some time. “Physically, I feel really good,” Laney-Hamilton said.

“Physically, I feel better than I felt in a long time and so just taking it a day at a time, working through everything.” Yet her role has varied, and doubt regarding her future in Brooklyn has started to surface.Laney-Hamilton went from being a starter to coming off the bench.She missed time for personal reasons early on then was sidelined for two games after receiving an injection in her surgically repaired knee before a June 14 game in Chicago. In the past two weeks, Laney-Hamilton hasn’t played in three games, despite being available, including last week’s Commissioner’s Cup win against the Las Vegas Aces and Friday’s win against the Minnesota Lynx. Coach Chris DeMarco explained some of Laney-Hamilton’s benchings as...