Las Vegas, NV (January 21, 2023)—Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the exclusive negotiating rights to 6-5 center Amanda Zahui B. from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Dearica Hamby. In addition, the Aces’ receive Los Angeles’ second round pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and the Sparks receive Las Vegas’ first round pick in 2024.
“Dearica has dedicated eight years of her career to this organization, and played a big role in our success since the team moved to Las Vegas,” said Williams. “We’re going to miss her as a teammate, and are grateful for all of her contributions to the Aces over the years.”
San Antonio selected Hamby with the sixth overall pick of the 2015 WNBA Draft, and her 242 games played with the Stars/Aces are the second most in team history. She was honored as the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, and etched her name in franchise lore with The Hamby Heave—a steal and 35-foot shot late in the Aces 2019 Second Round Playoff game against Chicago, which sent Las Vegas on to the WNBA Semifinals for the first time in a decade.
About the Las Vegas Aces
Led by two-time M’VP A’ja Wilson, Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, All-Star Game MVP Kelsey Plum, Most Improved Player Jackie Young and WNBA Coach of the Year Becky Hammon, the Aces won the franchise’s first WNBA Championship in 2022. It also marked the first major professional sports title for the city of Las Vegas.
Las Vegas begins defense of its championship on Saturday, May 20 at Seattle at 12 pm PT, and its first home game is slated for Saturday, May 27 against Los Angeles at 6 pm. The Aces are also hosting AT&T All-Star Weekend for the third time in five years on July 14-15. For ticket information, please visit LasVegasAces.com.