Hammon denies mistreatment of Hamby by Las Vegas Aces

Last Monday, Dearica Hamby, a former player for the Las Vegas Aces, filed a federal lawsuit against the WNBA and the Aces, alleging discrimination and retaliation related to her pregnancy. Hamby claims that after informing the team of her pregnancy in August 2022, she faced intimidation and negative treatment from the organization, culminating in her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023. The Aces recently defeated the Sparks 87-71 in a game held in Las Vegas. Hamby, a key member of the Aces' 2022 championship team, asserts that her pregnancy led to adverse actions from the team, including the rescinding of her housing benefits and failure to pay her daughter's school tuition. She also alleges that head coach Becky Hammon questioned her commitment to the team and whether she had planned her pregnancy, claims that Hammon has denied. Following Hamby's trade, she publicly shared her allegations, prompting an investigation by the WNBA and a subsequent two-game suspension for Hammon in May 2023. An attorney representing Hamby confirmed that the lawsuit was filed after receiving the necessary documentation from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In response, an Aces spokesperson reiterated the organization's stance from May, asserting that Hamby's pregnancy was not a factor in her trade and that they stand by their previous statements regarding the investigation's findings. Hammon has maintained that the Aces did not mistreat Hamby, emphasizing that the decision to trade her was unrelated to her pregnancy. The case highlights ongoing discussions about workplace treatment and discrimination in professional sports.