The Basics
Position: Forward
Current Team: Las Vegas Aces | #5
Draft: 2015 | Wake Forest | 1st round (6th overall)
Key Accolades: Sixth Woman of the Year (2019, 2020), All-Star (2021)
The Down Low
Dearica is primarily known for two things: (1) the Hamby Heave, and (2) her two-time near undisputed Sixth Woman of the Year titles. As to the first, as a Sky fan, I am not emotionally equipped to discuss her "foolishly heroic" game-winning shot to knock the Sky out of the 2019 WNBA playoffs, so here is a full rundown.
As to the second, don't let her Sixth Woman titles fool you. As is often the case, she is a Sixth Woman candidate because she could be starting on any team in the league. Instead, and perhaps as a fluke of Coach Bill Laimbeer's system, Hamby comes off the bench (although she played the second-most minutes of any player on the team last season). Hamby fits well coming in mid-game, though, because she indeed provides that coveted spark off the bench. She is a pure hustle player and you can see working her ass off every play.
Other things to know about Dearica is that she is mom to cutie Amaya and has very sweet friendships with teammate A'ja Wilson and former high school teammate Diamond DeShields (whom Amaya calls Auntie Diamond).
Highlight Reel
Merch
The Hamby Heave (BreakingT) | The Steal, The Shot, The Game (BreakingT)
More on Dearica
- ‘That’s just D’: The process behind Dearica Hamby’s Sixth Woman of the Year campaign (Maddyn Johnstone-Thomas, the Athletic)
- WNBA Star Dearica Hamby Keeps It Real About The Challenges Of Parenting In The Bubble (Mia J. Davis, Essence)
- Q&A: Aces' Hamby on relationship with Laimbeer, prioritizing motherhood (Andrew Joe Potter, The Score)