In the world of professional sports, the spotlight often shines brightest on performance, stats, and championships.
Yet WNBA star Dearica Hamby is proving that her impact extends far beyond the basketball court.
The two-time All-Star and forward for the Los Angeles Sparks is reshaping the narrative around self-care, not just for athletes, but for working mothers everywhere.
Hamby’s journey has been defined by resilience and advocacy. As a mother of two, she has openly shared the challenges of balancing the demands of professional basketball with raising children. Her candidness about her experiences, including calling out inequities in the league’s treatment of mothers, has pushed forward an important conversation: what does true self-care look like for women who are both caregivers and athletes?
For Hamby, self-care goes beyond spa days or surface-level wellness routines. It’s about prioritizing her mental health, ensuring her body recovers properly, and, most importantly, creating space to be present for her children. By speaking out, she is breaking down the stigma surrounding motherhood in sports and encouraging organizations to rethink the policies that affect parent-athletes.
Her advocacy resonates deeply with working mothers across industries who face similar struggles of juggling career expectations with personal responsibilities. Hamby shows that setting boundaries, asking for support, and demanding fair treatment are all powerful forms of self-care. She is redefining it not as indulgence, but as survival and sustainability.
On the court, Hamby remains a fierce competitor, known for her energy, defensive presence, and ability to inspire teammates. Off the court, her leadership is just as impactful. She represents a new kind of athlete: one who embraces vulnerability, speaks truth to power, and paves the way for the next generation of moms in sports.
By championing self-care as a necessity rather than a luxury, Hamby is reshaping the conversation around athlete wellness. Her story serves as a reminder that being “more than an athlete” means recognizing the human behind the jersey, the mother, advocate, and woman who refuses to choose between her career and her family.
In Dearica Hamby’s playbook, self-care is not selfish. It’s a radical act of strength that ensures longevity, in the game, in motherhood, and in life.
