The Los Angeles Sparks may have gotten off to an 0-2 start to the 2024 WNBA season, but one of the top positives from the early goings is the budding chemistry between Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby. Hamby has moved back into a full-time starting power forward in her second season with the team while Brink was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Both players are versatile on both ends of the court. Brink in particular developed a three-point shot during her final season at Stanford. Through the Sparks first two games, Brink is taking around four three-point attempts per game and knocking them down at a 40 percent clip. It helps open up the paint for Hamby who is shooting 63 percent from two-point range.
The chemistry between both players actually began developing during Team USA training camp for 3×3 competition, and both will represent the United States at this summer's Olympics in Paris, France. During a pregame media session prior to the Sparks game against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday, Cameron Brink spoke about her early impressions of playing alongside Dearica Hamby.
“Dearica is the best, she's one of my favorite humans. Just playing with her is a blast, we vibe really well together,” Brink said. “She's always picking me ip and she knows a lot. I'm really thankful to be with her and the 3×3 really helped our chemistry in just getting to know each other.”
Dearica Hamby looks like she's back to her All-Star form
One of the top developments for the Sparks during the early portion of this season is the play of Dearica Hamby. This is Hamby's second year with the Sparks after arriving in a trade with the Las Vegas Aces during the 2023 offseason.
Hamby worked her way back into game shape throughout the 2023 season after the birth of her second child, and by the end of the year she was looking like the two-time All-Star she was with the Aces. That momentum appears to have carried over to this season.
Through the Sparks first two games, Hamby has averaging 24.5 points per game, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals, all career-highs. She's shooting 61.3 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point line, but only 47.4 percent from the free-throw line.
While Hamby has been an All-Star, Brink believes her teammate doesn't get the appreciation she deserves.
“I think honestly, she doesn't get near enough flowers. She's been in this league for ten years and she's been an All-Star a couple of times off the bench,” Brink said. “She's super efficient, she's one of the most efficient players I've played with, and she never complains, she just puts her head down and works. I just have nothing but love for her.”
With the departure of franchise cornerstone Nneka Ogwumike to the Seattle Storm in free agency, the Sparks came into this season in phase one of a rebuilding year. But if the tandem of Brink and Hamby can keep this level of play up, then perhaps this group can surprise a few teams along the way.
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