Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby continues to add to her resume by winning her first Olympic medal in women’s 3×3 basketball. The four women on the USA team will take home bronze from the 2024 Summer Olympics after defeating Canada in the third-place medal game.
“What an accomplishment for Dearica and the rest of the USA 3×3 team! Watching Dearica lead with her resiliency, grit, fire, and toughness while competing with honor was so much fun”, said Sparks General Manager Raegan Pebley. “Dearica has yet again given us another reason to be proud to have her represent the Sparks organization.”
Hamby has been something of a late bloomer. Through her first four seasons in the WNBA, she averaged 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. She had no trophies or awards attached to her legacy, and her career trajectory was that of a role player after seeing her averages and minutes drop for three consecutive years.
Hamby was not satisfied with these results, and her hard work and dedication are paying off. Six years later, she is a two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Award Winner, a three-time All-Star, a WNBA champion, and an Olympic medalist. She is currently in the midst of her best year as a pro, nearly averaging a 20-point double-double.
“I was not a top player; I was 96 out of 100 coming out of high school,” said Hamby. “The way things are unfolding for me this year is no coincidence based on the way I have worked this past year. It is a testament to my resiliency and my faith in myself and my family.”
The 3×3 team’s path somewhat mirrored Hamby’s career. The team lost its first three games before bouncing back and winning six of its last seven to secure a spot on the podium. It is the second straight Olympics that the USA women’s 3×3 team has medaled.
Based on her ascension, Hamby could still rise even higher in the WNBA ranks. Basketball players rarely continue to improve this late into their careers, but who knows? It is not out of the question that Hamby could return to the Olympics in 2028 when she is 34 years old and try to improve on her third-place finish. It would certainly be fitting.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.