Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon has spoken out in response to a lawsuit filed by former Aces forward Dearica Hamby, who has accused the organization of discrimination related to her pregnancy. Hamby, 30, submitted a federal complaint on Monday, August 12, alleging that the team engaged in “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination, and retaliation” after learning she was pregnant. Hamby also claimed that the WNBA failed to “properly investigate” her concerns, according to ESPN.
Following the Aces’ 87-71 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks—Hamby’s current team—on Sunday, August 19, Hammon addressed questions about her integrity as a coach and the integrity of the Aces organization in light of the lawsuit. Hammon, 47, responded firmly to the media, saying, “Here are some facts. I’ve been in either the WNBA or NBA for now 25 years. I’ve never had an HR complaint. Never, not once.”
Hammon further stated that there had been no formal complaints filed against her by Hamby. “She didn’t file with the players’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. Those are facts,” Hammon asserted, according to the Associated Press. She also refuted claims made by Hamby’s legal team regarding the trade that sent Hamby to the Sparks. “It’s also factual that nobody made a call about trading her until Atlanta called us in January [2023]. That’s a fact,” Hammon said. “It just didn’t happen. I’m sorry, the bullying? I spoke with her every day.”
The coach emphasized that Hamby was given the option to participate in practices at her discretion. “If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t, she didn’t,” Hammon explained. “Over-the-top care, actually. Over-the-top care.”
Hamby’s lawsuit claims that her relationship with the Aces soured after she announced her pregnancy during the team’s parade celebrating their 2022 WNBA championship. Hamby alleges that the organization’s response to her pregnancy led to her being traded to the Sparks.
In a statement released after the lawsuit was filed, Hamby’s legal team stated, “The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant.”
The WNBA is currently reviewing the complaint. A league spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press, “We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint.”
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This is not the first time the WNBA has dealt with this issue. In May 2023, the league suspended Hammon for two games following an investigation into Hamby’s complaint. The WNBA concluded that Hammon and the Aces had violated league rules concerning “impermissible player benefits” and breached the WNBA’s Respect in the Workplace policies related to comments Hammon allegedly made to Hamby regarding her pregnancy.
The league’s investigation included 33 interviews with individuals close to the situation and a thorough review of texts, emails, and other documents. The findings revealed broader concerns about the Aces’ conduct during the most recent free agency period. In response, the WNBA disciplined the Aces and committed to enhancing training and enforcing standards across all teams to ensure compliance with league rules and respect in the workplace.
As the lawsuit progresses, both Hammon and the Aces organization are under intense scrutiny, with the case highlighting ongoing issues related to workplace rights and discrimination within professional sports.
