Dearica Hamby

After a tumultuous end to her tenure in Las Vegas, Hamby landed on her feet with the Sparks and maintained relatively consistent production despite giving birth ahead of the 2023 season. She started in 32 of her 34 appearances with the Aces in 2022 but started in just 19 of her 40 appearances with Los Angeles last year. However, her playing time remained relatively steady, as she averaged 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. However, Hamby's role in 2024 depends on several factors. First, her role could increase since Nneka Ogwumike has departed via free agency. The Sparks will also be getting Stephanie Talbot back in 2024 and have the second and fourth overall picks in this year's draft, which could cut into Hamby's playing time. Regardless of whether Hamby takes on a starting role in 2024, she's had consistent playing time over the past five seasons and will likely maintain consistent minutes this year, which would at least make her a solid mid-round fantasy consideration.

Hamby announced her pregnancy during the Aces' championship parade last September, so it's unclear if she'll be ready for a full workload to start the 2023 campaign. She had five straight solid campaigns with Las Vegas before being traded to the Sparks this offseason in exchange for Amanda Zahui B. Los Angeles has lost Katie Lou Samuelson (pregnancy) and Stephine Talbot (knee) for the season but added Hamby and Azura Stevens to a frontcourt that already featured Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike. When available, Hamby should claim a sizable role with her new squad, and given her scoring efficiency, rebounding prowess and defensive playmaking, she'll be a quality fantasy asset in 2023. Hamby's participation late in preseason bodes well for her chances of making an early return to regular action, potentially even the season opener.

Hamby has played solely off the bench across the last two seasons, but she's claimed consistent playing time and logged 20-plus minutes in all but two of those regular-season appearances. She averaged 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game despite shooting just 25 percent from beyond the arc. Hamby couldn't secure a three-peat of the Sixth Player of the Year award after winning it in 2019 and 2020, but she should challenge for the honor again if she doesn't end up with a starting spot with Kiah Stokes and Kelsey Plum for a starting role heading into the 2022 campaign. Even if she continues to come off the bench, her performance across the last three seasons makes her worthy of fantasy consideration in most leagues.