By Andy Walter

WILMINGTON — Former Smyrna High basketball standout Betnijah Laney, who overcame obstacles to make a name for herself in the WNBA, has been named the state Athlete of the Year for 2021.

Laney was honored with the John J. Brady Award by the Delaware Sportswriters & Broadcasters Assoc. at the group’s 73rd annual banquet held at DuPont Country Club this afternoon.

Also among the DSBA’s annual honorees were the Delmar High field hockey squad, which was named the state Team of the Year, and former Wesley College and Caesar Rodney High athlete Alexis Howerin, who won the Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero Award.

Other award winners were St. Mark’s High volleyball coach Nancy Griskowitz, who was named the Tubby Raymond Award state Coach of the Year and Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game leader Tony Glenn, who won the Herm Reitzes Award for community service.

Now in her fifth year in the WNBA, Laney has had to deal with a serious knee injury, getting released by a team and then the COVID pandemic before emerging as a pro player.

Laney was the leading scorer for the New York Liberty (16.8 ppg/10th in WNBA), was second on the team in assists (5.2/6th in WNBA), and third on team in rebounding (4.1 rpg).

Laney was second in the league in minutes played as the Liberty made the WNBA playoffs. After being named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2020, she was an WNBA All-Star last season.

She is only the fourth player in WNBA history with 16.7 points, five assists, and four rebounds/game.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter @DSNSports.