The flying shoe incident has taken a new turn. After Betnijah Laney-Hamilton explained her side of the shoe-throwing incident, Dara Mabrey raised a question on social media. 

Dara is the younger sister of the Toronto guard and a former basketball player for Notre Dame. Earlier in 2026, the younger Mabrey also signed a training camp deal with the Toronto Tempo. 

She took to social media and posted, "Where did the shoe go in between from when it was under the basket and then to marinas back". 

She was trying to understand the strange sequence of events rather than accusing anyone. She added a second post reading, "Throw her shoe ???" Her posts captured the confusion that surrounded the situation. 

Jonquel Jones lost her footwear underneath the basket during live play. Laney-Hamilton picked up the shoe and attempted to throw it back toward Jones. Instead, the shoe struck Mabrey in the back. 

The game had already established a physical tone before the throw occurred. The two competitors were involved in a scuffle that resulted in double technical fouls. Earlier in the game, Laney-Hamilton also received a Flagrant 1 foul for contact to the face. 

Officials assessed Laney-Hamilton a second technical foul for the shoe incident. Referee Kevin Fahy explained that she picked up the shoe, threw it at the opponent, and it hit her in the back. 

This call triggered an automatic ejection and set the stage for post-game explanations.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton defends her action

Laney-Hamilton insisted that her only goal was to toss the footwear back to her teammate. She denied any intention of targeting the opposing guard during the sequence, as credited by the UnderdogWNBA X account. 

Marina agreed with her opponent, "I had to take a couple breaths. But I think she was really just trying to get the shoe back to JJ. But I'll take the free throw," she stated. Both players involved shared the same view that the throw lacked any foul intent.

The ejection played a huge role in the outcome of the game. The Toronto Tempo defeated the New York Liberty 93-91, after nearly blowing a 20-point lead. Mabrey finished with 30 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds. 

Laney-Hamilton only played 16 minutes and scored 6 points, and her late exit damaged New York's comeback hopes.

Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco criticized the officiating, calling it "atrocious" while arguing his player was just trying to return the lost gear.

Does the ejection of Laney-Hamilton really cost Liberty the game?  

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha