The clutch specialist who turned a defensive steal into a championship legacy
In short: In 2019, Dearica Hamby achieved the impossible. On the same day she was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, she executed a desperate, game-winning shot with only seconds remaining. From college dominance to Olympic bronze, her career is defined by high-stakes precision and unexpected brilliance.
Before her professional ascent, Hamby established herself as a powerhouse at Wake Forest. During her junior season, she achieved a rare feat in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leading the league in both scoring and rebounding. By the end of her collegiate career, she stood as the program's all-time leader in both categories, having amassed 1,801 points and 1,021 rebounds.
Her professional journey began in 2015 when she was selected sixth overall in the WNBA Draft. While playing for the San Antonio Stars—a franchise that later became the Las Vegas Aces—Hamby earned a reputation as one of the league's premier substitutes. In 2019, she earned the Sixth Woman of the Year award with nearly unanimous support, receiving 41 out of 43 possible votes. That same year, she tied a WNBA record by recording five double-doubles while playing primarily from the bench.
Hamby's career has been marked by both championship glory and significant controversy. She secured a WNBA title with the Aces in 2022, but her tenure there ended in a trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in early 2023. This move prompted a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by Hamby in late 2023, in which she alleged the Aces traded her due to her pregnancy. Beyond the WNBA, she has represented the United States in 3x3 basketball, earning gold at the AmeriCup and a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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