Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby was ejected from Saturday's game against the Connecticut Sun after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for an elbow to the face of rookie Raegan Beers. The incident occurred with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Sparks' 77-68 victory.
Officials reviewed the play before issuing the automatic ejection. A closer examination revealed that Beers had made contact with Hamby's stomach shortly before the elbow. Beers exited the game with a jaw injury, and neither player returned.
Following the game, Hamby responded on X (formerly Twitter) to a fan who questioned her actions. "If somebody intentionally punch my kid in her ribs/ stomach I hope she does more than that!!!!!!" Hamby wrote. The fan had initially asked Hamby if she was setting a good example for her child and urged her not to react that way again.
The Flagrant 2 foul also subjects Hamby to a $1,000 fine under the WNBA's flagrant foul system. This is Hamby's first Flagrant 2 of the season. She has averaged 14.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season. Hamby, a three-time WNBA All-Star, finished ninth in MVP voting last season.
Hamby recorded 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 21 minutes before her ejection. She shot 2-for-2 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Sparks led by as many as 22 points during the game and held a 66-46 advantage entering the fourth quarter. The Sun outscored them 22-11 in the final period, but the Sparks' early lead was sufficient to secure the nine-point win. Rae Burrell led the Sparks with 20 points, and Nneka Ogwumike added 11 points and 11 rebounds.