Newcomer Laney shows her stuff during Sun’s preseason win
Mohegan — Betnijah Laney was the player Connecticut Sun head coach thought would be the team's biggest surprise in training camp.
Laney showed several times during Monday's first preseason game why Miller thought highly of her.
Laney didn't make the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for Connecticut. Rachel Banham did, giving the Sun a 68-65 win over the Los Angeles Sparks and sparing everyone from preseason overtime basketball.
In a game that Miller thought his team was “out-toughed” by Los Angeles, Laney, a 5-foot-11 wing who is fighting for one of Connecticut's 12 roster spots, was an exception.
“Laney gives us something we don't have — a physical guard that thinks downhill and thinks about getting to the rim,” Miller said. “Where we have a lot of shooters in our program, she is different. She is a person who thinks (to) drive.
“She hasn't disappointed (in) my prediction. She has been terrific all camp and you saw some of the reason why.”
Laney was one of three Sun players to score in double figures (10 points) and added three rebounds in 16 minutes of play.
“(I'm) aggressive,” Laney said. “It's so hard for me to talk about myself, ‘I'm this and I'm that', so that's why I play so hard. My game does (the talking) for itself.”
Laney signed a training camp contract for the Sun after missing last season after surgery. The Chicago Sky drafted her in the second round (17th overall) in 2015 and she played in 40 games with nine starts.
Laney suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in her left knee during a June 11, 2016 game.
“I played pretty decent my rookie year,” Laney said. “(In Feb. 2017), I ended up needing to have a second surgery, not a major surgery, just more of a clean-up scope for scar tissue.
“When training camp came around, I wasn't ready at all. It was very hard to move around and everything.”
Laney was waived by Chicago during training camp last season. She returned to Rutgers to rehab.
“It ultimately ended up being really good for me because I got to focus on my leg rather than trying to rush into playing and ending up having to wear a brace and not being all of the way ready,” Laney said. “It was really good for me to be able to go home and have time with my family and friends. I'm OK with everything.”
Connecticut's reserves struggled to hold onto a 12-point lead (57-45) with over nine minutes left in the game. Veteran Cappie Pondexter (14 points, six rebounds) and rookie Shakayla Thomas (17 points, eight rebounds) helped bring Los Angeles back.
Karlie Samuelson's 3-pointer gave Los Angeles a 65-63 lead with 1:43 left.
The Sun struggled to get themselves a good look on their next possession when Laney got the ball with 6 seconds left on the shot clock and drove the lane. Laney missed the layup and was fouled after getting the rebound. She made both free throws to tie the game.
“She's so aggressive and she's a very good driver,” said Banham, who played with Laney in Australia this offseason. “She's lanky and athletic, and that's something that can really help us out on the wing.”
The Sun got the ball back with 0.5 seconds left in regulation.
Banham, who had previously missed some open looks, got the inbounds pass from Laney and fired an off-balance shot that banked in from 31-feet at the buzzer.
“I was like, ‘how does that one go (in)?'” Banham said. “No one wanted to watch an overtime.”
All-Star Jasmine Thomas had 12 points and two steals for the Sun. Chiney Ogwumike, who missed all of last season to Achilles surgery, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.