Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby is opening up about her journey back to the basketball court following her second pregnancy.
Hamby’s journey to the WNBA’s 2023-2024 season has not been a simple one.
The Las Vegas Aces traded traded the baller to the Sparks during second her pregnancy. She raised issues with how the Aces handled the trade ahead of her giving birth to her son Legend in March.
Hamby released a message on Instagram back in January. It detailed the negativity she faced from a member of the Aces organization.
“To be treated this way by an organization, BY WOMEN who are mothers, who have claimed to be ‘in these shoes,’ who preach family, chemistry, and women’s empowerment is disappointing and leaves me sick to my stomach,” Hamby wrote in the statement.
In an interview with People, Hamby said she is proud that she spoke up for herself in the face of the tense situation.
“I always talk about how my first child, she taught me to appreciate life more and to not take things for granted. My personality has been very people-pleasing my entire life. I feel like this situation during my second pregnancy, and my son himself, have taught me to stick up for myself,” she said in the People interview.
Family Support
The WNBA player credits the support of her family and friends for helping her return to the game so shortly after giving birth.
“Between my mom and Amaya, they’ve been very helpful in letting me come back to basketball,” she said. “I went back and forth with myself for the longest time about if I wanted to actually play this season or wait it out. As much as I enjoy being a mom, as I sat around, I got bored. I was like, ‘There’s no way I can sit out a whole season.’ I haven’t missed a season yet, thankfully, even with both pregnancies.”