We all know Dearica Hamby for her legendary “Hamby Heave” – an iconic, clutch shot during the 2019 WNBA Playoffs. It was a dramatic, last-second three-pointer that clinched a win for the Las Vegas Aces and instantly carved Hamby’s name into WNBA history. That unforgettable play secured the victory, but it also became a signature moment in the league’s lore, forever associated with Hamby’s fearless energy.

Since then, Hamby has continued to shine on the court, earning back-to-back WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year honors. She’s solidified her reputation as one of the league’s most formidable and energetic bench players. Her record for the most double-doubles by a reserve underscores just how efficient and consistent she is when it counts. And in 2024, she’s once again made waves as a strong Most Improved Player candidate – proof of the kind of impact she continues to make season after season.

But Hamby’s story isn’t just about stats and accolades. She’s also a veteran mom, on and off the court. Even her teammates often describe her as the emotional “mom” of the team, a nurturing captain who builds locker room chemistry and uplifts younger players.  And if you’re wondering where that compassion and leadership come from, it’s rooted in her own journey as a mother and daughter.

Where is Dearica Marie Hamby from? What’s her nationality? 

Hailing from Marietta, Georgia – a suburb just northwest of Atlanta – Dearica Hamby spent her formative years in the very place where her basketball journey began. It was at Marietta High School where she first started making a name for herself, before transferring to Norcross High School for her senior year.

It was there that she helped lead the team to a 5A state championship during the 2010–11 season, cementing her status as a rising star in Georgia’s high school basketball scene. And from that point on, there was no looking back. Hamby soared to new heights in her athletic career.

Today, she’s not just known as a veteran on the court, but also as a proud and loving mom, an identity that holds real weight for her. She’s raising her daughter, Amaya, and her son, Legend, all while thriving as a professional athlete. “Being a mom and an athlete at the same time… It’s hard to balance it all, but my daughter, Amaya, 4, is at the age where she can understand… She’s a big part of why I can do what I do,” shared Hamby. Her strength in motherhood is deeply rooted in the values passed down from her own parents.

“She’s making some friends… She enjoys cappuccinos with her grandmother… I can see her getting frustrated… she’s a 3‑year‑old in a bubble,” Hamby added. Clearly, her personal experiences, both as a daughter and a mother, continue to shape the way she approaches life and leadership, on and off the court. And that influence goes far beyond the home.

What is Dearica Hamby’s ethnicity and religion?

Well, apart from being a basketball star, Hamby is also an African American whose heritage reflects her cultural identity and upbringing in Marietta, Georgia. As a proud Black American athlete, Hamby has represented not only her community but also her country with distinction on the basketball court.

While specific details about her ancestral background beyond the United States are not publicly documented, her identity as an African-American woman has been central to her presence in the W. Even when it comes to religion, Dearica Hamby has not publicly disclosed any religious beliefs or affiliations. Unlike some athletes who openly share their faith journeys, Hamby has chosen to keep this aspect of her life private.

Her focus has largely remained on her basketball career, motherhood, and advocacy work, allowing her personal beliefs to stay outside the public spotlight. So clearly, both her ethnicity and religion center around being a good mother on and off the court while portraying her best self during games. But you know how she started all this?

Which college did Dearica Hamby attend?

It all started at Wake Forest University, where Dearica Hamby’s collegiate journey took flight. Sure, she had already made waves in high school, but no one could’ve predicted just how big her impact would be once she stepped onto the court as a Demon Deacon. From day one, Hamby played like she had something to prove—and by the time she was done, she had made sure everyone knew her name.

Just consider just in her junior year, Hamby exploded onto the ACC scene, leading the entire conference in both scoring (22.0 PPG) and rebounding (11.0 RPG), a rare and dominant double-double average that made her the first player in Wake Forest history to lead the ACC in both categories in the same season.

And if anyone thought that was a fluke, her senior year quickly shut down the doubt when she posted 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, once again topping the league in scoring and nearly doing the same in rebounding. And by the time she wrapped up her college career, Hamby had already etched her name in Wake Forest’s record books, finishing as the all-time leader in both points (1,801) and rebounds (1,021).

But more than the stats, it was her relentless drive and consistency that set her apart. She didn’t just break records, she set the standard. And from there, well… the rest is history. Hamby carried that same fire into the WNBA and hasn’t looked back since, becoming one of the league’s most respected and reliable forces.