Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against WNBA and Las Vegas Aces for pregnancy discrimination
- WNBA player Dearica Hamby sues league and former team over pregnancy discrimination and retaliation.
- Allegations of discrimination and retaliation by the Los Angeles Sparks forward have led to a federal lawsuit.
- The lawsuit highlights the issue of pregnancy discrimination in professional sports.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a federal lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, alleging discrimination related to her pregnancy. The lawsuit claims that after Hamby informed the team of her pregnancy, they withheld promised benefits and questioned her commitment to the team. Hamby, a celebrated player who won a championship with the Aces in 2022, had signed a multi-year contract extension in June, which included assurances for additional benefits such as private school tuition for her daughter and housing accommodations. According to the lawsuit, Hamby experienced a shift in treatment following her pregnancy announcement during the championship parade in September. She alleges that the Aces ordered her to vacate team-provided housing and reneged on the tuition payments. The suit also highlights a troubling phone conversation in January 2023, where Aces head coach Becky Hammon reportedly labeled Hamby a "question mark" and accused her of not fulfilling her contractual obligations due to her pregnancy. Following the lawsuit, Hamby took to social media to express her frustrations, questioning whether the team expected her to forgo motherhood in exchange for her contract extension. An official WNBA investigation resulted in the Aces losing their first-round draft pick for 2025 and Hammon receiving a two-game suspension for violating workplace policies. Hamby contends that the league's response was insufficient and that she faced retaliation for speaking out about her experiences.