Tragic news: The Los Angeles Sparks head coach faces a six-month suspension after it has been demonstrated that…
Within ten minutes after giving birth to her second kid, she was up and moving. Dearica Hamby, then, has little trouble bouncing back from this most recent setback in her life.
Due to remarks she allegedly made to Hamby regarding her pregnancy that went against team and league standards regarding respect in the workplace, WNBA coach Becky Hammon was suspended by the league for two games on Tuesday without pay. Due to improper player perks associated with a 2022 contract extension that Hamby signed, the Aces lost their 2025 first-round draft pick during a months-long inquiry into his claims of bullying and discrimination.
One day after making her on-court debut as a mother of two in the Sparks preseason scrimmage, Hamby learned of the consequences on Monday.
on Mother’s Day. The two-time All-Star was happy to put this chapter behind him, especially with the Sparks’ season opener scheduled for Friday.
“After Sparks practice on Tuesday, I kind of want to move forward and focus on where I am right now,” Hamby remarked. “This season, I’m going to play basketball, and I’m happy and healthy as well as my son,” so I simply want to concentrate on getting ahead. Now that this portion of it is done, the union and I will keep looking into my choices.
The Sparks acquired Hamby in January after he was named the league’s sixth player of the year twice. At the time, Hamby claimed in a social media statement that the Aces’ members had broken their pledges to her, leading her to She was asked to sign a two-year contract extension, and even though she had worked with team and personal trainers during her pregnancy—which she revealed during the Aces’ championship parade last September—they questioned her dedication to the team and told her she “was not taking [her offseason] workouts seriously.”
The 7-year-old daughter of Hamby, Amaya, inquired as to whether the trade was related to her son Legend. Hamby sobbed uncontrollably.
FILE: On May 6, 2022, in Phoenix, during a WNBA basketball game versus the Phoenix Mercury, Dearica Hamby (5) of the Las Vegas Aces dribbles up court. On Saturday, January 21, 2023, the Las Vegas Aces transferred two-time WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks.
For the first time since joining the Sparks in a trade, Dearica Hamby took to the public speaking after the expecting mother accused Aces players of prejudice.
“My son will be able to see it,” Hamby remarked, wiping away her emotions as she considered the role she wishes to play in her son’s life. “I think the league has been amazing [with] what they’ve done, but we still have a long ways to go in this league and in the world. I don’t think this is the end of it and I am just moving forward, being progressive for working moms.”
Hamby stated that, four weeks after giving birth, she was medically cleared to go back. A few days prior to training camp, she gave Sparks general manager Karen Bryant a call and told she planned to arrive on the squad at the beginning of the campaign. Although she was expected to practice noncontact on her first day, she felt prepared to move to contact almost immediately.
In general, women’s bodies are amazing, according to Hamby.
The forward for the Sparks, Chiney Ogwumike, chimed in, “Hers is different though.”
After the exchange and throughout her comeback to the court, Hamby’s new teammates have been a source of support. After Sunday’s scrimmage, in which she finished with three points on one of nine shots and a team-high six rebounds in 20 minutes, Hamby acknowledged that she was harsh on herself, but her teammates were still in amazement at her speedy comeback.
“It’s critical that players’ voices, ideas, sentiments, and life experiences be heard in order to be able to see that she was heard on a platform, that gives me a sense of satisfaction,” Ogwumike remarked regarding the investigation’s findings. Additionally, we’re only here to help her. She is a fierce lady. Being able to help her through this as a mother and someone who has been such a force on the court, I believe that is a gift, and as friends, I’m happy that we’ve all been here for each other. We are fortunate to have her as a teammate, and we will do all in our power to keep her safe.
Despite posting 9.3 points per game, her lowest since 2018, and 7.1 rebounds, Hamby was named an All-Star the previous season. Even so, she had always intended to come back for the season’s opening, Following the transaction, Hamby claimed to have self-doubt. She acknowledged that her initial reason for coming back so soon was the grievance, but that her priorities have since changed.
“To try to prove the Aces wrong, I’ve been having to dial myself in to not make it personal,” Hamby remarked. I’m currently demonstrating to my children and myself that I am capable. I’ve returned.
Following the season opening at Crypto.com Arena on Friday against the Phoenix Mercury, the Sparks host Hamby’s previous team on May 25 at home before traveling to Las Vegas on May 27. According to Hamby, the reunion will most likely be emotional.
