Why is Liberty's Betnijah Laney Hamilton’s crossover on ex-UCLA star Gianna Kneepkens trending
Gianna Kneepkens #8 of the UCLA Bruins dives for a loose ball during an NCAA basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins, Sunday January 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. The New York Liberty opened their 30th WNBA season with a record-setting 106-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night at Barclays Center. Breanna Stewart led the short-handed Liberty with 31 points and 10 rebounds.
The forward became the second-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points. New York's 106 total points also established a franchise record for a season opener. The 31-point margin marked the largest victory for a Liberty head coach on debut, securing Chris DeMarco his first regular-season win.
New York overwhelmed Connecticut early, scoring 36 points in the first quarter. This represented the team's highest-scoring opening period since 2023. Veteran guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton provided the standout moment of the match.
She played her first regular-season game since missing the entire 2025 season following left knee surgery. Early in the contest, she executed a sharp dribble move that sent Sun rookie Gianna Kneepkens to the floor. Laney-Hamilton then scored a jump shot, igniting a sellout crowd that included Liberty Ring of Honour member Kym Hampton .
She gave Kneepkens her welcome to the W moment instantly 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t. co/1HwXyWwUZE pic. twitter.