Dearica Hamby
After a slow start to her pro career, Dearica Hamby’s slowly becoming a dominant player in the WNBA. As a member of the Las Vegas Aces, she won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award two years in a row before making her All-Star debut in 2021.
Hamby credits her success to hard work and the support of her basketball-crazed family. Her husband Alonzo Nelson-Ododa played in the NBA G League and overseas, while her sister-in-law Olivia Nelson-Ododa is a college star at UConn.
Te’a Cooper
For many people, Te’a Cooper came out of nowhere. At one point, she was a second-round pick and at another, a starter and valuable contributor for the Los Angeles Sparks. This just goes to show what hard work and confidence can achieve.
Cooper’s private life was full of turnarounds as well. She was married to NBA veteran Dwight Howard, but the two only lasted several months before they called it quit in April 2021. She’s currently dating NFL star Alvin Kamara.