Michaela Onyenwere was thrilled when the Mystics brought in Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
Back when Onyenwere was a rookie, playing for the New York Liberty in 2021, Laney-Hamilton had been her favorite vet. “She was somebody who was consistent every single day, not only in her work ethic, but also just in her accountability,” Onyenwere said. “I was like, OK, that’s somebody I can really look up to.” She was naturally excited to reunite as teammates when the Mystics claimed Laney-Hamilton off waivers in August. The acquisition meant that the team would be getting both valuable depth on the wing and valuable leadership in the locker room, Onyenwere thought.
And one more thing.
The acquisition meant that Onyenwere would no longer be the oldest player on the Mystics.
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On the youngest team in the WNBA, loaded with rookies, Onyenwere sometimes feels like a senior citizen. “They always joke about how old I am,” she sighs, at the ripe age of … 27. The Mystics’ youth is clear in everything from their dancing to their social media to their team nickname. (They’ve taken to calling themselves the “Young Hos” — good luck printing that on a rally towel.)
It has made for a delightful romp of a season as the team has outperformed projections and cruised into the playoffs. But as they prepared for their stretch run, they decided they could use a bit of a veteran presence, and they found that in 32-year-old Laney-Hamilton.
“We’re super energetic, and we’re excited for everything, but I think she keeps us stable and focused,” said Mystics reserve guard Lucy Olsen. “She’s been really great for us.”
And they have been great for her.
“To sum it up,” Laney-Hamilton said, “it’s just been fun.”
As the fifth-seeded Mystics have entered the playoffs — dropping Game 1 against the No. 4 Dream on Sunday, with a must-win Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday — her leadership has been key.
Few players in the WNBA can match her breadth of experience. Laney-Hamilton played for five franchises in her first seven years in the league — battling for minutes and bouncing from team to team in search of a steady role. As she was starting to gain her footing, she tore her ACL, sidelining her for a full season. Then, after those difficult early years, Laney-Hamilton broke through. She won the league award for Most Improved Player in 2020 after notching 17.2 points and 4.0 assists per game with the Dream. That performance cleared the way for her stint with the Liberty, where she became a key piece of the organization, eventually starting every playoff game of a championship run in 2024.
But the years since have been challenging. Laney-Hamilton tore her meniscus last spring and missed the entire season that followed. Working her way back from the injury this year, she did not find consistent minutes under new Liberty coach Chris DeMarco. Trade rumors abounded. She was ultimately waived. It led her to the Mystics, where she has found joy in becoming the resident vet.
“It’s a lot of youthful energy,” said Laney-Hamilton, who turns 33 in October. “It keeps things lighthearted, while at the same time being very competitive, very serious about what we do. I think that shows both on and off the court. Just how fun we are, the way that we celebrate each other, the way that we encourage each other, and then the way that we go out there and compete.”
Her career trajectory means that she can relate to everyone on the roster. Laney-Hamilton knows what it’s like to be a playoff starter and what it’s like to be on the end of the bench and everything in between. “It’s great to have her knowledge,” said Mystics rookie forward Cotie McMahon. “Just so much IQ.”
Laney-Hamilton has worked off the bench since joining the team, averaging 4.2 points in 15.5 minutes per game, a very different role from what she had a few years ago. This group has quickly embraced her as a leader all the same.
“To see her integrated into our team that quickly and that seamlessly has been really cool,” said Onyenwere. “She’s been a sounding board for us. She’s a voice for us. … She brings things that are intangible.”
Her playoff experience is especially valuable. The majority of this group had never been near the postseason before this year; the rest of the roster had a combined two career playoff starts before Game 1. Laney-Hamilton had 25. The coaching staff has leaned on her even more over the past week.
“She’s talking from a position of authority, credibility. She’s been there, done that,” said Mystics coach Sydney Johnson. “It can really give our players an added level of confidence.”
Yet for all the emphasis on her wisdom and experience and veteran status, Laney-Hamilton has still very much clicked with this group as just another player.
“She’s older, but she’s so young-minded and spirited,” Olsen said. “She fits right in.”
Which leaves just one question: Is there an age limit on being a Young Ho?
“Honestly, yes, and she is past that limit,” said McMahon, one of the chief architects of the nickname. “But she’s still considered a Young Ho.”
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