LA Sparks teammates Rae Burrell and Dearica Hamby are turning heads in Miami’s Unrivaled league, using the innovative 3-on-3 format to sharpen their synergy ahead of the 2024 WNBA season. The duo recently combined for all fourth-quarter points in Team Vinyl’s victory, capped by Burrell’s game-winning shot off Hamby’s assist.
“Developing chemistry here translates directly to LA,” Burrell told the AP.
“When Dearica trusts me in clutch moments, that’s how championships get built.”
Their partnership extends beyond the court:
- Shared offseason workouts in Las Vegas neighborhoods
- Family bonding with Hamby’s children Legend and Amaya
- Daily skill development sessions since November
Burrell ranks third in points per minute for Team Vinyl, while Hamby leads the squad in scoring. This mirrors their evolving roles with the Sparks, where Hamby sees Burrell as a “dynamic piece for our long-term core.”
Three other Sparks players are leveraging Unrivaled’s U.S.-based platform:
- Azurá Stevens (Team Particle)
- Rickea Jackson (Team Gloss)
- Cameron Brink (injured reserve)
New head coach Lynne Roberts observed the group during a Miami visit, noting:
“Their camaraderie off-court matters as much as the drills. When you see that joy in competition, you know it’s sustainable.”
With 34 players sharing an apartment complex, Unrivaled fosters rare WNBA offseason bonding. For Burrell – who previously played in Australia and Belgium – staying stateside allowed holiday family time while refining her pick-and-roll timing with Hamby.
As the Sparks rebuild around young talent, this Miami proving ground could determine their Western Conference trajectory. “Every rep here builds confidence for May,” Hamby emphasized. “Watch how this work translates when the lights are brightest.”
