Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Dearica Hamby has taken legal action against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, filing a federal lawsuit on Monday that centers on her treatment during pregnancy.
Hamby alleges that the Aces engaged in discrimination and retaliation against her, ultimately leading to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023. According to the lawsuit, Hamby claims the Aces’ actions were directly tied to her pregnancy, violating her rights as a professional athlete and an employee.
The lawsuit comes after months of escalating tension and public allegations from Hamby. In response to the filing, a WNBA spokesperson stated, “We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint.” However, the Aces have not yet commented on the lawsuit. Previously, both the club and head coach Becky Hammon denied any wrongdoing. Hammon stated in May 2023 that the decision to trade Hamby was purely strategic, aimed at freeing up resources to sign potential Hall of Famer Candace Parker.
“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in her one contract, and we wanted to get three more people in,” Hammon explained. “I think it’s very evident (with) who we signed on why we made the move.”
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Hamby, who earned a bronze medal in 3X3 women’s basketball at the recent Olympic Games, has been vocal about her treatment by the Aces. This isn’t the first time she has brought the issue to light. The WNBA conducted an investigation into her claims, which resulted in a two-game suspension without pay for Hammon and the loss of the Aces’ first-round draft pick in 2025 due to impermissible player benefits provided to Hamby.
Despite the league’s actions, Hamby remained dissatisfied, arguing that the punishment did not adequately address the severity of the discrimination she experienced. In September, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which she amended in October. The EEOC ultimately ruled in May that Hamby had the “right to sue,” paving the way for her federal lawsuit.
Hamby’s attorneys issued a strong statement following the lawsuit’s filing: “The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job. The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant, and the WNBA responded with a light tap on the wrist. Every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight. That can’t be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”
Hamby was a key player for the Aces from 2015 to 2022, dating back to the franchise’s days as the San Antonio Stars. She earned the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2020 and has been named an All-Star three times in the past four seasons.
This season, Hamby is enjoying a standout year with the Sparks, averaging career highs of 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
The lawsuit is not the only off-court issue currently facing the Aces.
The team is also under investigation by the WNBA for a controversial two-year sponsorship deal offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which promised each player $25,000 per month and up to $100,000 per season.
The outcome of this investigation, combined with Hamby’s lawsuit, adds further scrutiny to the reigning champions’ conduct and the league’s handling of such matters.
