all scores

Las Vegas Aces trade Dearica Hamby to Los Angeles Sparks

img
Dearica Hamby (5) of the Las Vegas Aces high fives Kelsey Plum (10) of the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Aces traded two-time Sixth Player of the Year Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks, the team announced Saturday.

The Sparks are sending center Amanda Zahui B. to the Aces. The teams also will trade 2024 draft picks, with the Aces trading their first-round pick and receiving the Sparks’ second-round pick.

The first-round pick of the Aces franchise in 2015, Hamby has spent her entire eight-year career with the team. She joined the franchise in its move from San Antonio to Las Vegas in 2018, and she was named an All-Star for the second straight season in 2022.

The 6-foot-3 forward also helped clinch the first WNBA title in franchise history in 2022. During the championship parade, she revealed that she was pregnant with her second child.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Hamby had signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces.

“I’m blessed,” Hamby said at the time. “What we’ve been building in Las Vegas is incredibly special, and I’m excited to continue to be a part of it.”

More recently, Hamby tweeted about being a member of the WNBA while pregnant.

“Imagine expressing your fears as a woman and being pregnant in this profession/world…. Then to be reassured that you were supported.. and your back was “had”…. only to then be used against you,” she wrote.

On Saturday, Hamby addressed the trade in a tweet.

“Thankful for the love!!!” she wrote. “The best is yet to come! Looking forward to being in LA and can’t wait to get back on the court.”

In a statement, Aces’ general manager Natalie Williams said Hamby played a “big role” in the team’s success.

“Dearica has dedicated eight years of her career to this organization, and played a big role in our success since the team moved to Las Vegas,” said Williams. “We’re going to miss her as a teammate, and are grateful for all of her contributions to the Aces over the years.”

Zahui B., meanwhile, did not play last season in the WNBA. She was placed on the full-season suspension list over to a limited availability due to overseas obligations.

Through seven seasons in the WNBA, Zahui B. has averaged 6.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.