2015 WNBA Draft (April 16, 2015)
San Antonio enjoyed a bit of a bounce-back season in 2014, going 16-18, earning the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in the playoffs and giving them the ninth pick in each round of the 2015 WNBA Draft. They also had Indiana’s first and third round picks (Nos. 6 and 30 overall) after trading Shenise Johnson to Indiana in March 2015.
With the number six pick, the Stars selected Wake Forest forward Dearica Hamby. The 6-3 Hamby played a eight combined seasons in San Antonio (3) and Las Vegas (5), earning WNBA Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2019 and 2020, and being named an All-Star in 2021 and 2022.
She helped the Aces win the 2022 WNBA Championship, and three years earlier, etched her name into Las Vegas sports history with the “Hamby Heave” on September 15, 2019. Her steal and 40-footer with under six seconds remaining in Las Vegas’ Second Round Playoff Game against the Chicago Sky helped the Aces advance to the WNBA Semifinals in the team’s second season in Las Vegas.
During the 2022-23 offseason, Hamby was traded to Los Angles for Amanda Zahui B., which eventually helped Las Vegas clear roster space to sign two-time league MVP Candace Parker, and two-time WNBA Champion Alysha Clark. The Aces also sent their 2024 first round pick to the Sparks in the trade, while receiving LA’s second round pick in the same draft.
In the third round, they took Dragana Stankovic from Serbia and Nikki Moody from Iowa State. Moody was an All-Big 12 first team selection as a senior, and WBCA All-America honorable mention. She also set the Cyclones career assist record during her time at Iowa State.
Stankovic did not come to camp and, as of 2023, has yet to play in a WNBA game. Moody was waived prior to the start of the 2015 regular season.