The 6-foot-3-inch forward has started the past three games in place of the injured Wilson and is averaging 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds and shooting 65.7 percent.
Basketball
Las Vegas forward Dearica Hamby started for the third straight game in place of the injured A’ja Wilson, and recorded a team-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
The Aces returned to practice Monday for the first time since the All-Star break, and are focused on building on the positives of the first half of the season — and improving some of the negatives.
A’ja Wilson couldn’t play because of a sprained ankle, but Kayla McBride scored 13 points and Liz Cambage had eight points and six rebounds to cap All-Star weekend.
Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler of Team Wilson had 25 points and seven assists to earn MVP honors Saturday before an announced crowd of 9,157 at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
The weekend culminates with the All-Star Game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center, where Team Wilson meets Team Della Donne.
The All-Star guard loses in the final round to Connecticut Sun forward Shekinna Stricklen at the WNBA’s All-Star Friday night at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
The events are packaged together as a separate competition beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at Mandalay Bay Events Center. ESPN will televise the contests live.
The All-Star guard suffered through losing seasons in her first five years in the league, but the Aces are 13-6 at the break and she’s having a blast on the court.
The 27-year-old will play a set Friday night with recording artists Snoop Dogg and Iggy Azalea at Mandalay Bay’s beach party as part of WNBA All-Star weekend.
The league is congregating at Mandalay Bay Events Center for the All-Star Game and corresponding festivities, including a 3-point shooting contest and skills challenge.
Aces guard Kayla McBride will compete in the WNBA 3-point contest on Friday afternoon at Mandalay Bay Events Center, the league announced Wednesday.
Las Vegas coach Bill Laimbeer was supposed to coach Team Delle Donne while Washington coach Mike Thibault was scheduled to coach Team Wilson. But the two made an informal agreement to switch ahead of the draft, and the rest of the league’s coaches backed it — prompting Delle Donne to propose the swap.
Dearica Hamby started in place of injured star A’ja Wilson and scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Las Vegas.
Laimbeer said Sunday after a 79-74 win over the Minnesota Lynx that they’ll likely predicate their offense more around ball movement without Wilson, who averages 15.8 points on 12.3 shots, 6.7 rebounds and commands considerable defensive attention as one of the WNBA’s most dominant post players.