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Dearica Hamby · Having stacked victories over half of the teams in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Sparks, even after an eight-win season, marked themselves as a nightly upset contender with the ability to rise at any given moment. The same description, as the New York Liberty discovered on August 28, 2024, could be used to explain Dearica Hamby’s low-post creativity. Playing a key role in building the Sparks’ early double-digit lead, Hamby stays aggressive, pivoting into a face-up against Nyara Sabally, eventually using an explosive first step to gain entry into the paint. Under the rim, and seemingly searching for an impactful move, Hamby puts on a masterclass in both pivot and reverse pivot before pirouetting into a nifty, across-the-rim banker. Hamby’s play helped Los Angeles prevail in a battle between teams at opposite ends of the league’s standings. Proving once more why she finished with multiple fifth-place Most Valuable Player votes at season’s end, Hamby turned in 21 points (on 9-of-15), seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block. · State of Mint