Dearica Marie Hamby Bio
Dearica Marie Hamby is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Vinyl BC of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. Standing 6 ft 3 in and playing as a forward, she has built a reputation as a versatile scorer and rebounder since entering the league in 2015. Over the course of her career, Dearica Marie Hamby has been selected as a WNBA All-Star three times, earned Sixth Woman of the Year honors twice, and captured a WNBA championship in 2022 with the Las Vegas Aces.
Born and raised in Georgia, Hamby starred at Wake Forest University, where she finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Her combination of size, athleticism, and feel for the game has allowed her to contribute in nearly every statistical category, and she has continued to expand her impact on the international stage with USA Basketball.
Early Life and Background
Dearica Marie Hamby was born on November 6, 1993, in Marietta, Georgia. She grew up in the state and attended Marietta High School before finishing her prep career at Norcross High School in Norcross, Georgia. Her time in two strong Georgia high school programs helped her develop into one of the most sought-after forward prospects in the country.
At Norcross, Hamby established herself as a high-level recruit thanks to her scoring touch around the basket and her rebounding instincts. Her performances in high school opened the door to a scholarship at Wake Forest University, where she would go on to leave a lasting mark on the women’s basketball program.
Path to Basketball
Hamby committed to Wake Forest, joining the Demon Deacons for the 2011–2012 season. By her junior year, she had become one of the most productive players in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leading the nation’s top conference in both scoring (22.0) and rebounding (11.0) during the 2013–2014 season, becoming the first Demon Deacon to lead the ACC in both categories in the same year.
As a senior in 2014–2015, Dearica Marie Hamby averaged 20.3 points, the highest scoring average in the ACC, along with 10.7 rebounds, the second highest in the conference. She was a two-time First-team All-ACC selection in 2014 and 2015, and she closed her college career as Wake Forest’s all-time leading scorer with 1,801 points and all-time leading rebounder with 1,021 rebounds.
Dearica Marie Hamby Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Dearica Marie Hamby was selected sixth overall in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars. She quickly became a rotation player and a productive contributor off the bench, showing the kind of energy and rebounding that had marked her college career. During this early stretch, Hamby also gained international experience with the Cheongju KB Stars in South Korea during the 2015–2016 offseason.
When the franchise relocated and became the Las Vegas Aces in 2018, Hamby remained with the team and continued her development as a versatile forward. Her willingness to embrace a reserve role allowed the Aces to keep a strong second unit on the floor, and her production off the bench soon turned her into a candidate for league-wide recognition.
Las Vegas Aces Breakthrough (2019–2022)
In 2019, Hamby averaged 11 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.97 steals per game, tying the WNBA record for the most double-doubles by a reserve off the bench with five. She was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year that season, earning 41 of 43 votes. In the 2019 playoffs, she delivered what the WNBA website called the shot of the year, stealing a pass and hitting a game-winning basket with 6.5 seconds left against the Chicago Sky.
Hamby repeated as Sixth Woman of the Year in 2020, further establishing herself as one of the league’s top reserve players. She was selected as a WNBA All-Star in 2021 and again in 2022, and on June 29, 2022, she signed a multi-year contract extension with the Aces. That same year, Dearica Marie Hamby helped Las Vegas win the 2022 WNBA Championship and the Commissioner’s Cup, capping the strongest stretch of her career to that point.
Los Angeles Sparks Era (2023–Present)
On January 21, 2023, Hamby was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with a 2024 first-round pick in exchange for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick. The move marked a new chapter for Dearica Marie Hamby, who joined a young Sparks team looking to build around her scoring and rebounding.
She has continued to perform at a high level in Los Angeles. In 2023, she was selected to the All-Star Game and won the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup MVP, and in 2024 she was again an All-Star, earned the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, and signed a one-year contract extension with the Sparks on June 13, 2024. She also joined Vinyl BC of Unrivaled for its inaugural season beginning in 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dearica Marie Hamby is known for her ability to score in the paint, finish through contact, and clean the glass on both ends of the floor. Her 6 ft 3 in frame, length, and strength allow her to play physically at the forward position, while her face-up game and midrange touch make her a matchup problem. Off the bench and as a starter, she has consistently produced double-doubles and served as a connector who can rebound, defend, and initiate the break in transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of her career are the 2019 game-winning play against the Chicago Sky, the 2022 WNBA Championship with the Las Vegas Aces, and her role on the 2024 United States 3×3 Olympic team, which won a bronze medal in Paris. She also delivered the game-winning shot for the United States at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in San Juan and was named tournament MVP.
Dearica Marie Hamby Career Wins
Dearica Marie Hamby has built a résumé that includes major team championships and individual awards at every level she has played. Her WNBA success with the Las Vegas Aces and her international medals with USA Basketball underline her consistent ability to perform on big stages.
WNBA Highlights
Dearica Marie Hamby is a 2022 WNBA Champion and a 2022 Commissioner’s Cup Champion with the Las Vegas Aces. She is a three-time WNBA All-Star in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year in 2019 and 2020. In 2024, she added the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award to her list of league honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Hamby won a gold medal with the United States at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in San Juan, where she was also named MVP, and a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in 3×3 basketball. She has also competed in leagues abroad, including stints with Beijing Great Wall, Kayseri, and Vinyl BC, winning championships and gaining further experience in 3×3 competition.
Dearica Marie Hamby Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dearica Marie Hamby’s parents and broader family background is limited in the verified sources available, and detailed family history beyond her own immediate household has not been confirmed.
Personal Life
Dearica Marie Hamby is married and is a mother of two. She and her husband welcomed their daughter, Amaya, in February 2017. In September 2022, during the Las Vegas Aces Championship parade, she announced that she was expecting her second child. In March 2023, she announced the birth of her second daughter, Legend Maree Scandrick.
In September 2023, Hamby filed a federal discrimination complaint against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, alleging that the Aces traded her because she was pregnant and that the league did not adequately investigate the matter.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Dearica Marie Hamby remains one of the veterans in the Los Angeles Sparks locker room, providing scoring, rebounding, and leadership on a developing roster. Coming off a 2024 campaign in which she was named an All-Star, earned the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, and signed a one-year contract extension, she is positioned as a focal point of the Sparks’ attack and a key voice in the team’s growth.
On the international stage, Hamby joined Vinyl BC of Unrivaled for the league’s inaugural 2025 season, adding another high-level competition to her schedule alongside the WNBA year. The Unrivaled experience, combined with her Olympic bronze from Paris 2024, gives her a full slate of elite basketball opportunities as she continues to expand her game.
For the Sparks, the 2025 outlook centers on Hamby’s ability to anchor the frontcourt, produce efficient scoring, and mentor younger teammates. With her proven track record of delivering in big moments, Dearica Marie Hamby enters the season as both a statistical cornerstone and a stabilizing presence for Los Angeles.
