The Los Angeles Sparks announced today it has signed guard Crystal Dangerfield to a 7-day hardship contract. In five WNBA seasons with the Lynx, Fever, Liberty, Wings and Dream, the 5-foot-5 guard has averaged 8.1 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds, while shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from distance. In 2020 she was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. Dangerfield was selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2020 draft out of the University of Connecticut where she made three Final Four appearances with the Huskies. USA Basketball announced today that WNBA Champion, two-time All-Star and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has been named to the USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team set to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Hamby joins the four-woman roster, which includes Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard and Hailey Van Lith, as an injury replacement for Sparks teammate Cameron Brink.
I’m honored to be chosen to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics and excited to compete for a gold medal,” said Hamby.
Hamby has previous USA Basketball 5-on-5 and 3×3 experience. Most recently, she made her FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series debut at the Springfield Stop as a member of team Springfield. Hamby was named to Team Springfield at the conclusion of the 2024 USA 3×3 Women’s National Team training camp, which preceded the Springfield stop. In 2023, Hamby was a member of the gold medal winning USA squad that stood atop the podium at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup. Additionally, she was recognized as the tournament MVP. Hamby has been involved in USA 5-on-5 programs since 2022, having participated in USA Women’s National Team training camps (2022), FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying (2022) and the USA Basketball Women’s College Tour (2023).
Hamby is having a career season for the Sparks, leading the WNBA in double-doubles (11) and ranking second in defensive rebounds per game (8.8) and third in rebounds per contest (10.4). She also ranks 10th in points per game (17.8), tied for 11th in three-point percentage (40.0), 12th in field-goal percentage (50.9) and 14th in steals per game (1.5). Earlier this season, the versatile forward was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week ending June 9.
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