Following news that Cameron Brink would be forced out of the 2024 Paris Olympics due to a torn ACL, fellow Sparks teammate Dearica Hamby has been chosen as her replacement on USA’s 3×3 squad.
Hamby is enjoying a breakout season and is currently averaging 17.8pts/10.5reb/3.5ast for the Sparks. A two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Hamby will join Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard, and Hailey Van Lith in Paris as team USA vies for Olympic gold.
The 30-year-old Hamby has represented USA Basketball at both the 3×3 and 5-on-5 levels in the past, helping the Americans win the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup. For her efforts, she was named tournament MVP after leading the team in total key assists with 10.
“My heart breaks for her. When she got the news she made it and I got the news I didn’t originally, we cried together,” Hamby told reporters. “It’s kind of an ironic situation. I’m sure if she wanted to have anybody replace her, she’d want it to be me.”
“I think that should have been something originally done. Cam and I both should have been on that team,” she said. “I thought it was a no-brainer, but the committee is the committee.”
The US are the reigning Olympic champions after capturing gold at the Tokyo games where 3×3 basketball made its Olympic debut.
3×3 basketball officially kicks off on July 30th, with the medal round beginning on August 5th.
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.