Last Updated on August 11, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kym Hampton brought a physical inside presence and dependable rebounding ability that helped her stand out during the early years of women’s professional basketball. She became especially well known for her time with the New York Liberty, where her toughness and experience gave the team stability around the basket.

Here is the detailed profile of Kym Hampton:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Kym Hampton
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: November 3, 1962
  • Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 2 inches (188 cms)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 3 inches (190 cms)
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: Wore #34 with the New York Liberty
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Iroquois High School (Louisville, Kentucky)
  • College: Arizona State University (1980–1984)
  • WNBA Draft: Allocated to the New York Liberty in the inaugural WNBA season (1997)
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Liberty (1997–1999)
    • Played internationally in Spain, Italy, France, and Japan before the WNBA
  • Championship Rings: 0 (played in WNBA Finals but did not win a championship)
  • Parents: Donald and Joyce Hampton
  • Kids: A’riel Jackson (played basketball for Cincinnati Bearcats)
  • Siblings: 6 siblings

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kym Hampton was a rugged interior scorer-rebounder who fit the classic power post archetype, bringing center size and frontcourt toughness to the early New York Liberty. Defensively, she worked as a paint anchor and physical glass-cleaner, using strength, positioning, and contact tolerance to hold ground inside rather than relying on length or flash. Offensively, her value came from finishing around the basket, establishing post position, and supplying steady interior scoring while also helping on the boards. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Hampton had a sturdy build that suited the bruising style of the league’s early years. Her overall game was direct and forceful: a no-frills frontcourt presence built on strength, rebounding, interior finishing, and veteran poise.

Scouting Report

Kym Hampton was the kind of interior scorer who understood that establishing position often mattered more than making the spectacular play. The first thing you notice is how early she fought for deep post seals, creating catches a step closer to the basket before the entry pass was even thrown. That gave her a real advantage because she didn’t have to rely on an endless collection of post moves. One strong drop step, a controlled shoulder fake, or a quick baseline spin was usually enough once she had inside leverage. If the defense brought a second defender late, she’d make the uncomplicated pass back to the perimeter or find a cutter diving through the lane, but her first instinct was to punish single coverage before help could arrive. She also ran the floor with purpose, rewarding teammates who looked ahead in transition by establishing early position against retreating defenders instead of waiting for the offense to reset. Defensively, Hampton embraced the physical battles around the paint. She held her ground well against post scorers, boxed out with consistent technique, and rotated across the lane early enough to discourage drives even when she wasn’t credited with a block. The trade-off came when offenses pulled her farther from the basket. Quick face-up forwards and repeated screening actions could force uncomfortable recoveries in space, making lateral movement more of a challenge than strength or positioning. That’s why her ideal fit was alongside perimeter defenders capable of containing dribble penetration, allowing Hampton to spend more possessions protecting the interior and controlling the defensive glass. I’ve always thought players like her influence games by winning the battle for territory. She created advantages before the ball arrived, and that’s easy to miss if you’re only watching where the pass ends up. Stylistically, there are similarities to Tangela Smith’s willingness to battle inside despite not relying on overwhelming size, while parts of her physical post game and rebounding instincts resemble Natalie Williams, particularly in the way both established position long before the scoring opportunity actually developed. — Mat Diekhake, HeatingUp

Sources:
Player profile — WNBA
Career stats and measurements — Basketball-Reference
1997 advanced profile — Basketball-Reference
Liberty legacy overview — New York Liberty / WNBA