Dearica Hamby Named 2020 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year

NEW YORK (Sept. 20, 2020)—Las Vegas Aces forward Dearica Hamby has been named the 2020 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, the WNBA announced today.

Hamby has been selected as the league’s top reserve for the second season in a row.  She is the third player to win the award in back-to-back seasons, joining Allie Quigley (2014 and 2015) and DeWanna Bonner (three in a row from 2009-11).

Hamby received 44 votes from a national panel of 47 sportswriters and broadcasters.  Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams received two votes and Phoenix Mercury guard Bria Hartley received one vote.  To be eligible for the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award, a player had to come off the bench in more games than she started.

Coming off the bench in every regular-season appearance, Hamby averaged 13.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.68 steals (tied for sixth in the WNBA) in 28.3 minutes in 22 games.  She ranked sixth in the WNBA in field goal percentage (53.9) and third in three-point field goal percentage (47.4).

In her sixth WNBA season, Hamby set career highs in scoring, assists, steals, field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage.  She scored at least 20 points three times, grabbed 10 or more rebounds five times and recorded four point-rebound double-doubles.

On the final day of the regular season (Sept. 13), Hamby finished with a season-high 23 points, a career-high eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals as the Aces defeated the Seattle Storm 86-84 to earn the top seed and a double-bye in the WNBA Playoffs 2020 presented by AT&T.  Las Vegas (18-4), led by 2020 WNBA Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson and Hamby, will begin its best-of-five WNBA Semifinals vs. the Connecticut Sun today at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Hamby, 26, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, has spent her entire WNBA career with the Aces’ franchise after a standout collegiate career at Wake Forest University.  She holds career averages of 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 179 games (53 starts) in the WNBA.

In honor of being named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Hamby will receive $5,150 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

Below are the voting results for the 2020 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.

2020 WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

Votes                Player                                     Team
 44                   Dearica Hamby                     Las Vegas Aces
2                         Riquna Williams                     Los Angeles Sparks
1                         Bria Hartley                            Phoenix Mercury

WNBA SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Year                    Player                                     Team

2020                   Dearica Hamby                   Las Vegas Aces
2019                      Dearica Hamby                        Las Vegas Aces
2018                      Jonquel Jones                          Connecticut Sun
2017                      Sugar Rodgers                          New York Liberty
2016                      Jantel Lavender                       Los Angeles Sparks
2015                      Allie Quigley                             Chicago Sky
2014                      Allie Quigley                             Chicago Sky
2013                      Riquna Williams                      Tulsa Shock
2012                      Renee Montgomery                Connecticut Sun
2011                      DeWanna Bonner                    Phoenix Mercury
2010                      DeWanna Bonner                   Phoenix Mercury
2009                      DeWanna Bonner                   Phoenix Mercury
2008                      Candice Wiggins                     Minnesota Lynx
2007                      Plenette Pierson                      Detroit Shock

About the WNBA

The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women.  Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion and social responsibility.  Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete.  Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s new partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers. Inaugural WNBA Changemakers include AT&T, Deloitte and Nike.