Dearica Hamby's final week of the 2026 WNBA regular season looked shaky on paper — and then she showed up anyway.
The Wake Forest alum spent the back half of September navigating the Sparks' injury report, sitting out both the Portland Fire game on September 20 and the Las Vegas Aces clash midweek after being ruled out alongside Cameron Brink. But when Los Angeles needed her for the regular-season curtain call — a home sendoff for franchise legend Nneka Ogwumike against the Golden State Valkyries on September 25 — Hamby was upgraded and delivered.
She finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and a block in a narrow 75–76 loss, a performance that mattered more for what it represented than the final scoreline. The Sparks dropped the game, but Hamby's presence on the floor for a franchise milestone moment underscored the value the veteran forward brings beyond the stat sheet.
It wasn't a clean week — being ruled out for two straight games and returning to a losing effort is nobody's ideal ending — but Hamby's ability to suit up and produce double-digit scoring despite injury concerns is a reminder of why Los Angeles leaned on the Wake Forest product all season long. For Demon Deacon fans tracking their alumni in the pros, it's a quietly encouraging sign heading into the offseason.
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