Even compared to her WNBA title, Dearica Hamby feels that winning the bronze medal is more significant to her life and career.
At the start of 2024, Dearica Hamby, being an Olympian, didn’t appear to be in her cards. The USA 5x5 team seemed as stacked as ever and when the 3x3 roster was officially announced, her name wasn’t one of the four destined for Paris.
However, one player’s tragedy created an opportunity for her to help Team USA return to 3x3 glory.
Cameron Brink, Hamby’s Sparks teammate, tore her ACL and would be missing the rest of her rookie season and the 2024 Olympic games.
Needing a replacement on short notice, USA Basketball brought in Hamby and she did not disappoint.
Hamby tied with Tiffany Hayes for the most rebounds in the 3x3 competition with 44 and was tenth in total blocks with three rejections across nine games.
The Americans did not walk away with the gold but played for bronze, defeating Canada 16-13. In the bronze medal match, Hamby scored key baskets down the stretch to help Team USA rally back after being down 12-9. She also grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the win.
After the game, Hamby talked about what winning bronze for her country meant to her via Kevin Baxter of the LA Times.
“This means more, honestly,” she said. “To be at the highest level for basketball, to be an Olympian and to represent the country. I wasn’t a top basketball player coming out of high school, so this means a lot to me.”
Hamby is already a well-accomplished player. She won the WNBA title back in 2022 with the Las Vegas Aces, was named the Sixth Woman back in 2019 and 2020 and is a three-time All-Star.
A bronze medal topping all that says a lot. It demonstrates that Hamby cares about what representing this country means. It shows how much she respects the Olympics and competing against the best players in the world.
With the bronze medal in hand, Hamby will return to the States with pride and as a legend. Her name is etched in the history books of USA Basketball and she will undoubtedly be greeted with tremendous cheers from her coaches, teammates and fans when she lands in Los Angeles later this month.
All that’s left for Hamby in Paris is to embrace the moments she has left and to watch both the men’s and women’s USA teams compete against the French for the gold medal in 5x5.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
