While many WNBA stars are chasing bigger contracts, Dearica Hamby is using her new $3.4 million deal to chase something else entirely: ownership.
Just two weeks ago, the 32-year-old veteran star signed a three-year, $3.4 million deal to stay with the Sparks. So she had every reason to lean into the moment and reset how she moves both on and off the court.
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In the 2025 season, Hamby scored a career-high 18.4 points per game and converted 57.2% from the field as she led the Sparks to 21 wins. So re-signing her was a no-brainer for the LA front office. But instead of switching things up because of more money, she’s doubling down on something much more intentional as she broke down what “new money” actually looks like for her, in a recent conversation with Jordan Richard.
“Obviously, more money, more problems,” she joked before revealing that her approach hasn’t really changed at all. “I was in this tax bracket last year, so just being smart about it. I’m going to continue to live the way I’ve been living. I’m not going to overindulge because there’s more money on the table. But definitely gonna just be smart about my investments and build things for my daughter. We just got our own LLC together, so we are business partners now. There are a lot of exciting things that I’ve been doing in Las Vegas.”
However, Dearica Hamby wasn’t always smart with her money.
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“It’s a learning lesson. I’m not gonna say that I was always the best at it early on. It was less money, but I didn’t always make the best decisions. And so just having kids, it definitely changes your perspective… So just find something that you enjoy and invest in it, and something that you can kind of get behind and learn. And I think it makes it easier. ”
That shift in perspective didn’t come easy for her, but it now shows up in how she’s moving off the court.
Because while Hamby is talking about smarter investments, she’s also putting those plans into action. Just a few days before opening up about her approach with money, she took to social media to announce her latest venture.
And it’s a smoothie shop called Mood Boost Bar, set to open in Las Vegas this summer.
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“MY SMOOTHIE SHOP WILL BE OPEN IN LAS VEGAS THIS SUMMER!!!! MOOD BOOST BAR! 💕 Ahhhh!!!!! Can’t wait to share my love for smoothies, vibrancy… manifesting and community with you guys,” she announced on X.
It’s worth noting that, in doing so, Hamby is tapping into a bigger shift across the WNBA. One where players are thinking beyond contracts and building something that lasts.
A New Trend is Emerging: WNBA Stars Are Redefining Power
What Dearica Hamby is doing right now isn’t happening in isolation. It reflects a growing trend where playersare taking ownership of their careers.
Take Napheesa Collier, for example.
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The Minnesota Lynx star didn’t just stop at being an MVP-caliber player; she created an entirely new lane that gives women athletes another income source and a reason to stay in the United States during the WNBA offseason.
With Breanna Stewart, Collier co-founded Unrivaled, a professional 3×3 women’s basketball league, which had its first-ever season in 2025. That’s not just a side hustle, that’s ownership. It’s about creating more opportunities, more money, and more control for players.
Then there’s Angel Reese.
Known for her larger-than-life presence, Reese has turned her brand into a full-on business machine. From equity-driven partnerships to landing the cover of NBA 2K26, she’s showing how NIL-era momentum can translate into long-term financial power at the pro level.
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But the list doesn’t just stop there. From veterans to rising stars, more WNBA players are stepping into business, branding, and ownership roles than ever before.
And that’s exactly where Dearica Hamby fits into this conversation.
Her smoothie shop, her LLC with her daughter – they are not just about making money but about owning something and building a foundation that exists beyond the game.
Because right now in the WNBA, the smartest players aren’t just chasing contracts anymore.
They’re building empires.
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