Dearica Hamby is the first person in the history of the WNBA Universe to win Player of the Day in a loss. She scored 29 points and had 7 rebounds in a game the LA Sparks lost 92-78 to the Phoenix Mercury. She snapped a three-game streak of scoring fewer than 10 points. Hamby went 6-11 from the field, continuing her efficient shooting, even going 4-5 from behind the three-point line. She tied her season high in points, narrowly missing out on her first 30-point game of the season.
At WNBA Universe we will almost always reward the winning team. However, Hamby has made the most of a bad situation and deserves the limelight. As mentioned in a previous post about the Sparks, it often feels like Hamby is the only reliable source of scoring. With Cameron Brink set to miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL and Lexie Brown also out indefinitely as she fights Chrohn’s disease, there is not much to be excited about for the Sparks. Rickea Jackson has played great for a rookie but can’t be counted upon consistently. This leaves Dearica Hamby to generate the majority of the offense which she has handled seamlessly.
It’s truly remarkable the leap that Dearica Hamby has made offensively. She is averaging 18.4 points on 51.9% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Hamby is 9th in the league in points per game, 4th in rebounds per game, 5th highest three-point percentage, and 4th in minutes played with a staggering 35.2 a game.
Before the 2024 WNBA season, Dearica Hamby had never put up numbers close to what she is currently producing in her tenth year. While having great team success, winning one WNBA championship, and receiving individual accolades as a two-time Sixth Woman of the Year, her best statistical season before this year she averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds. Without Nneka Ogumike the ex-Sparks star who is now on the Seattle Storm, Hamby has filled the void. She is being asked to be the team’s best player, something she hasn’t had to do in the WNBA. She has answered the call by attempting 13.5 field goal attempts per game, nearly double the amount from last season.
Her star play has not gone unnoticed by the Sparks who have extended her contract through the 2025 season. Hamby deserves to be an all-star and should be leading the race for Most Improved Player. The Sparks will be back in action on July 2nd when they will take on the Washington Mystics at home. If you are interested in reading previous Player of the Day articles, click any of the links below.
Player of the Day 06/19/24: Jackie Young
Jackie Young led the Aces with 32 points and 4 rebounds on 11/19 shooting in their 94-83 win over the Seattle Storm. This offensive explosion came after being held to just 3 points in the previous matchup against the Storm. With A’ja Wilson starting the game slowly, Young stepped up, dropping 19 points in the […]
Player of the Day 06/20/24: Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu led the way for the New York Liberty with 31 points, 9 assists and 6 three pointers as they defeated the LA Sparks 93-80. Courtney Vandersloot has been out due to personal reasons and Ionescu has stepped up for her team. Betnijah-Laney Hamilton was also out, allowing Ionescu to have the ball in […]
Player of the Day 06/22/24: Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart had one of the most complete games of the season in a 98-88 win over the LA Sparks. Stewart dropped a season-high 33 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks. The offensive showcase was enough to get her player of the day, the 9 steals and blocks were the icing on the […]