WNBA’s top Sixth Woman is MVP Mom

Las Vegas Aces star Dearica Hamby and daughter Amaya have become recognizable among WNBA fans worldwide. (Photo courtesy Las Vegas Aces, via Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — It's Media Day for the Las Vegas Aces, and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Marie Hamby takes her seat in front of the Zoom camera, prepared to answer questions about the upcoming season.

That includes the fun relationship between her and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, as the two seem inseparable on social media with their dance moves and lip syncing for the world to see.

"This team is fun, we have a lot of personalities, but a good core of us are very social and into that kind of stuff," Hamby said. "I think we're gonna make a lot of people laugh and bring joy to a lot of people just being ourselves."

The team, and its personalities, include Hamby's 4-year-old daughter Amaya, who most certainly bring joy and laughter to WNBA fans, and has become a part of the Aces' landscape during their first three years in Las Vegas.

"Amaya comes to practices, Amaya comes to her workouts and she's just a part of what we do," Aces guard Kelsey Plum said.

Hamby is one of several WNBA players who have normalized life as a professional basketball player along with being a full-time mother. And the 27-year-old Georgia-native has perfected it, knowing her daughter is watching, learning from mom's every move.

"I enjoy the experience," Hamby said during a recent 1-on-1 Zoom session. "But I know for her it's shaped and molded who she is. That fun personality that she has, she's been around such amazing women, like my teammates, so many personalities. I think everybody has a little bit of a hand in that."

NEVER READY

Dearica Hamby spent last season in the WNBA bubble, where her daughter Amaya was able to spend time with other players’ children, as mothers joined forces to help one another during the pandemic. Hamby also had her mother on hand to assist. (Photo courtesy Las Vegas Aces, via Getty Images)

Hamby's mother had her when she was 17.

And Hamby never expected to be a young mother, before giving birth to Amaya at 23.

In the beginning she heard of other parents' nightmarish experiences from stories of their kids crying all the time or waking up through the night. But she also realized every household is different, and it's that nurturing care a mother has that has allowed her to go with the flow no matter the situation.

"I don't think you can ever really prepare for it," Hamby said. "I didn't know that I wanted to be a young mom, just cause my mom was kind of young. You can get advice, and you can kind of have an idea, but honestly it's just day by day and you never know what you're gonna get from both parties. It just takes experience and of course you have guidance, but you have to go through it yourself."

She added that Amaya didn't give her much trouble early on. She slept through the night, allowing Hamby to get a good night's rest - especially in-season. Knowing the importance of rest and recovery, Hamby said her daughter's temperament and personality has helped her grow as a professional basketball player.

Clearly, though, that's a reflection of the one person Amaya sees daily - her mother.

And while she credits her support system in one great big group effort in raising her daughter, Hamby has embraced the responsibility with poise and grace. While she's proven to be the most important player off the bench for the Aces, she is an MVP mother every second of every minute, each day.

"It's inspiring, and it's definitely something to emulate," Plum said. "It kind of teaches women that you really can do it all. They definitely have great support systems, but those women are truly special. It's great to have examples like that in the basketball community."

CROSSOVER

Being a full-time mother hasn't deterred Dearica Hamby from success on the court, where she's the two-time reigning Sixth Woman of the Year for the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo courtesy Las Vegas Aces, via Getty Images, by Ned Dishman)

The transition from mother to basketball player has been seamless, and helpful for Hamby, as she said she's been able to see and assess many situations from a different perspective. She said she's learned to appreciate selflessness at another level.

"Obviously being a parent you care for people differently, you empathize with people differently, and you kind of want to do what's best for everyone," Hamby said. "A lot of that has to do with who I am in general. I definitely think the patience and trying to look at the bigger picture."

That's something Wilson was quick to point on Media Day, explaining with that trademark smile when speaking about one of her best friends, teammate, and Tik Tok dance partner.

Wilson said her appreciation level for Hamby has grown since coming into the league, and personally has gotten to see Hamby sacrifice a lot when it comes to everything in her life, especially her daughter.

It's why the entire team greatly admires and respects her.

"D is our X-factor - she is our glue," Wilson said. "She does a lot of little things for us that might not come up on the scoresheet or might not appear where people think that it should. But she's always constantly there. She's constantly working so hard to make sure that she makes everybody happy."

And that starts at home, where she's built a wonderful environment for her most precious gift.

Hamby enjoys waking up every morning around 7 am with her daughter. Sometimes the two will stop at Starbucks before taking her to a local bilingual school where she said Amaya is excelling.

From there Hamby is in physical therapy or strength and conditioning by 9 a.m., then in a basketball workout at 10:30 a.m. Afterward, it's back to school to scoop Amaya and then off to do mother-daughter things. Hamby tries to rid themselves from mom's profession at least once a week, allowing her daughter to choose something fun she would like to do, as a reward for having a good week at school.

And as excited as fans may be to see the two of them around the city, Hamby said whenever she sees cars with Las Vegas Aces stickers on the windows, she will honk her horn and wave, bringing smiles to local fans.

Just another part of the selflessness and kindness she exhibits in front of her daughter, teaching her every step of the way.

Said Hamby: "I know that she's gonna appreciate it a lot as she gets older and understands and realizes what's going on and understands it a little bit better."

Dearica Hamby, the two-time Sixth Woman of the Year, and MVP mother - nothin' but net!