The three-time MVP A’ja Wilson’s Aces are undergoing changes. Last Sunday, the team engaged in a three-team deal, trading Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks while acquiring Jewel Loyd. Just a day later, the Aces are once again buzzing, but this time, not for their usual on-court heroics.

Dearica Hamby, a standout in both the WNBA and the newly formed league Unrivaled, finds herself at the center of a legal and personal whirlwind. This situation seems to be casting a shadow over her career, as the star forward was listed as “out, personal” ahead of a crucial matchup for Vinyl BC against the Lunar Owls.

But what’s behind her absence? It all began on August 12, 2024, when Hamby filed a lawsuit against her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, and the WNBA. The allegations? Discrimination and retaliation during her 2022 pregnancy. The case stems from claims that the Aces had offered off-the-books benefits, like private school tuition for her daughter and team-provided housing.

However, Hamby states the tone shifted after her pregnancy announcement, leading to what she describes as a campaign of retaliation. The situation escalated further when she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks just months after helping the Aces secure a WNBA title. Though the league launched an investigation, the fallout resulted in the Aces losing a draft pick and Becky Hammon serving a two-game suspension.

Now, Hamby is starting the early evaluation process for the case she filed last year in August. But her struggle is far from over.

Amid off-court turmoil, Hamby emerges as a force against A’ja Wilson’s squad!

Despite the legal turmoil, Hamby hasn’t missed a beat on the court. She transitioned seamlessly to the Sparks and later joined the Unrivaled league, where her leadership has been pivotal for Vinyl BC. Back in 2022, when she left the Aces, she was averaging 9.3 points and nearly 7.1 rebounds per game.

Two years later, Hamby has elevated her game, averaging 17.3 points while grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game. Impressive, right? At Unrivaled, Vinyl BC’s standout is now averaging 19.5 points and 9 rebounds per game. That’s why she’s so crucial on the court for the upcoming game against the Lunar Owls, a juggernaut led by Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Allisha Gray.

With Hamby out, the spotlight has shifted to Arike Ogunbowale and Rhyne Howard to step up, while Aliyah Boston sees an expanded role as an offensive hub.

As for the Sparks star forward, her return remains unconfirmed.