By John “Woods” Armwood III
In Philadelphia basketball circles, Yolanda Laney’s name carries weight. Not just because of her own accomplishments on the court, but because of the countless lives she’s touched through teaching, mentoring, and mothering—both literally and figuratively.
For Laney, being honored at the Rumph Classic this year was more than a personal recognition. It was a reminder of the decades she’s poured into the game and the community.
“To me, it’s a great honor because the recreation center where I taught boys and girls basketball skills is out of the Danny Rump Recreation Center over on Morton and Johnson Street. And so to be honored by the Rump Foundation, it really meant a lot to me. I knew Danny. And his parents. And Paul Jordan, who’s a big influence with the Rump Foundation as well, has worked with me to help me teach skills to the neighborhood kids.”
That’s the heart of Laney: every accolade, every award, every spotlight moment is tied back to the young people she’s coached and the community she’s uplifted.
A Resilient Legacy Through Her Daughter
Laney’s pride as a mentor is matched only by her pride as a mother. Her daughter, Betnijah, carved her own path in basketball, battling through adversity that would’ve sidelined most.
“She was playing all last year during the championship with a torn meniscus, and people didn’t know that. Betnijah is very resilient. If I had to describe her, she’s resilient. And I love her because she’s had like 9, 10 surgeries on that meniscus. But she fought through it, and to see her get her championship, that really meant a lot. And I am very proud of my daughter.”
Resilience runs in the Laney family. It’s not just a trait—it’s a lifestyle. And for Yolanda, watching her daughter persevere reminded her why the lessons of toughness, grit, and self-belief are so essential in the players she teaches.
The Joy of Watching Dreams Realized
Few things bring Yolanda more joy than watching young women she once coached in AAU or summer leagues make it to the professional ranks. Names like Monty and Brittany Horenko, women who once ran alongside Betnijah, are now living the dreams they once whispered about in gyms across the city.
“It’s been a big growth and it’s been a big impact. When I looked at some of the young ladies who were surrounding me down on the court that’s playing in this game right here, some of them were drafted in the pros, and some of them also played in the pros… So just to watch their growth as young ladies, to be professional young ladies, and then to have that dream and that hope to make it to the WNBA. And then to have been a part of that by working with them, coaching them, teaching them—it means a lot.”
For Laney, these are not just players. They’re living proof that mentorship matters. That the hours spent teaching a jump shot or running through drills are about more than basketball—they’re about building character, discipline, and the courage to chase the impossible.
A Matriarch of Philly Hoops
In every gym she walks into, Yolanda Laney is more than a coach. She’s a mother figure. A mentor. A blueprint for what it looks like to give back. Her story isn’t just about basketball—it’s about community, family, and resilience.
The Rumph Classic honor was a milestone, but for Laney, the true reward is in the legacy. In the daughters and sons she’s coached. In Betnijah's grit. In every young woman who dared to dream bigger because of her guidance.
Yolanda Laney isn’t just Philly basketball royalty. She’s its matriarch. And her legacy will echo in every gym, every player, every life she’s touched for generations.