Ejected! Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s shoe hits Marina Mabrey
Toronto Tempo Win Close Game Against New York Liberty After a Shoe-Flying Incident
By Michael Voepel, ESPN Senior Writer — July 12, 2026 (Explained simply for everyone!)
The Big Picture
The Toronto Tempo and the New York Liberty played a women’s basketball game (WNBA) on Sunday in Montreal, Canada. Toronto won 93‑91 after a wild final quarter. Imagine a race where one team is far ahead, the other catches up, and then a silly shoe changes everything!
Meet the Teams and Players (In Kid Terms)
- Toronto Tempo: A new team from Canada (more on “new” later).
- New York Liberty: A team from New York City.
- Marina Mabrey: Plays for Toronto; scored 30 points Sunday; just picked for the All‑Star game (a match of the best players).
- Betnijah Laney‑Hamilton: Plays for New York.
- Jonquel Jones: New York’s tall center (the player near the basket).
- Breanna Stewart & Nyara Sabally: Other key players.
The Shoe Incident – Step by Step
With only 1 minute and 48 seconds left in the game, this happened:
- Jonquel Jones lost her shoe on the floor.
- Her teammate Betnijah Laney‑Hamilton picked the shoe up and threw it.
- The shoe hit Marina Mabrey (Toronto) in the back.
- Laney‑Hamilton already had a technical foul earlier (a penalty for not playing nicely), so this was her second.
- Rules say two technical fouls = you are ejected (sent off the court).
- Because of the hit, Mabrey got a free throw (a free point from a special line) and made it, putting Toronto ahead 91‑89.
Important Point: A technical foul is like a warning for silly or rough behavior off the normal play. Two warnings and you must leave the game. A free throw is a chance to score one point without defenders blocking you.
Was the Shoe Throw on Purpose?
- New York coach Chris DeMarco said after the game that Laney‑Hamilton was just trying to toss the shoe back to Jones, not hit Mabrey.
- Mabrey agreed: “I had to take a couple breaths… I think she was really just trying to get the shoe back to JJ. But I’ll take the free throw.”
- Both players had already gotten technical fouls in the third quarter for a small fight (skirmish) while guarding each other.
- Referee Kevin Fahy told a reporter: she “picked up a shoe and threw it at Marina Mabrey, and it hit Marina in the back, so she received her second technical foul and subsequently was ejected.”
- Toronto coach Sandy Brondello (who used to coach the Liberty from 2022‑25) also thought the shoe hit was an accident. She was happy her team stayed calm.
How the Exciting Fourth Quarter Ended
- Toronto led by 16 points going into the last quarter.
- New York made a big comeback, scoring 27 points while Toronto scored only 13 in that quarter.
- Breanna Stewart tied the game at 91 after Mabrey’s free throw.
- Then Nyara Sabally—who played for New York from 2023‑25—made a layup (an easy close‑range shot) with 52.5 seconds left. That became the winning points for Toronto!
Coach’s Words Made Simple: Brondello said: “It got a little scary at the end, but our team is tough. We defended well, though refs called many fouls for New York late. We hung in there and found a way to win. So proud of the group.”
More Fun Facts and Numbers
- Mabrey scored 30 points Sunday and 34 points Friday when Toronto lost to Dallas.
- Before Sunday, Toronto had lost four games in a row; now their record is 10 wins, 13 losses.
- Toronto is an expansion franchise (a brand‑new team added to the league) trying to build fans all over Canada.
- They played their last two games at Montreal’s Bell Centre:
- Friday: 20,996 fans — a new WNBA regular‑season attendance record!
- Sunday: 12,724 fans.
Summary
Let’s recap the key points:
- Toronto Tempo beat New York Liberty 93‑91 in Montreal.
- A thrown shoe hit Mabrey, giving Laney‑Hamilton her second technical foul and ejection.
- Mabrey’s free throw made it 91‑89 Toronto.
- New York tied it, but Sabally’s late layup won the game.
- Coaches and players said the shoe throw was an accident.
- Toronto is a new team drawing huge crowds in Canada.
FAQ (Questions You Might Ask)
1. What is a technical foul?
It’s a penalty for things like arguing or small fights, not for normal basketball moves. Get two and you’re out of the game.
2. Why was Laney‑Hamilton ejected?
She already had one technical foul from an earlier skirmish; the shoe incident was her second, so the rules sent her off.
3. What does “expansion franchise” mean?
It means a team that is new to the league—like adding a fresh piece to a board game. Toronto is the new WNBA team.
4. How did Toronto keep the win after nearly losing?
They were ahead by a lot, New York caught up, but Toronto made a final basket and stayed calm to hold on.
5. What is an All‑Star?
It’s a player voted as one of the best in the league to play in a special spotlight game. Mabrey made it for the first time.
