WNBA injury news: Why isn't Dearica Hamby playing tonight vs Fire? Know reason behind Sparks forward's absence

The Sparks forward had initially been listed as doubtful before her status was downgraded to confirmed out shortly before tipoff.

Updated on: Sep 21, 2026, 04:47:08 IST

By Ojas Jaiswal

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The Los Angeles Sparks are facing the Portland Fire at Crypto.com Arena, with both teams already out of playoff contention and little at stake in terms of postseason hopes.

Dearica Hamby is ruled out with a left knee injury (AP Photo)

However, the game still carries significance for the standings, with Portland sitting ninth at 16-26 and Los Angeles one spot behind at 15-26.

A win would move the Sparks above their opponents in the standings, giving the hosts an added incentive to finish the season strongly. However, Los Angeles will be without a key player for the matchup.

Why isn't Dearica Hamby playing?

The Sparks listed Hamby as out with a left knee injury, marking her first missed game of the season.

The Sparks forward had initially been listed as doubtful before her status was downgraded to confirmed out shortly before tipoff.

Hamby has dealt with knee issues earlier in her career as well. In 2022, she suffered a bone contusion to her right knee while playing for the Las Vegas Aces against the Atlanta Dream. She also sustained a right knee injury during the 2020 WNBA playoffs on September 24, 2020.

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The 32-year-old had appeared in all 41 games for the Sparks this season before being ruled out of the latest matchup. She was averaging 14.4 points, seven rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, ranking fourth on Los Angeles’ scoring list, with Kelsey Plum leading the team.

Sparks injury report included other stars

However, Hamby was not the only Sparks player unavailable for Sunday’s game. Los Angeles had three players listed on its injury report, including Hamby and Cameron Brink.

Brink was ruled out with a right ankle injury, marking her first missed game since August 18.

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Aaliyah Nye was also unavailable for the matchup as she continued to deal with a left ankle injury.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ojas Jaiswal
Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.Read More

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