Dearica Hamby Racist Text Leads to Firing, WNBA Ban

Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby received a racist text message containing a racial slur and dehumanizing language, leading to the sender's termination from his employer and a lifetime ban from WNBA games and events. The message, sent to Hamby's personal phone, included the N-word and described her as an animal that should be put in a zoo. The incident began following an August 22, 2026, game between the Sparks and the Connecticut Sun, during which Hamby was ejected for an on-court incident. Two days later, on August 24, Hamby shared a screenshot of the offensive text message on social media, including the sender's phone number and asking for identification. Internet users quickly traced the number to an employee of Acclaro Medical, a Rhode Island-based medical technology company. Acclaro Medical confirmed it suspended the employee pending an investigation. By September 1, 2026, the company announced the individual was no longer employed there, stating the alleged conduct did not reflect its values and condemning racism and hate speech.