All-Star Hamby Sues WNBA, Aces Alleging Discrimination, Retaliation Because She Was Pregnant

All-Star Dearica Hamby sued the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and her former team in federal court Monday over the treatment she received from the Las Vegas Aces while pregnant.

Hamby’s lawsuit claimed the Aces discriminated against her and retaliated against her, leading to her January 2023 trade to the Los Angeles Sparks.

“We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint,” a WNBA spokesperson said.

The Aces did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the club and coach Becky Hammon have previously denied the allegations. Hammon stated in May 2023 that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons, namely putting the club in position to likely sign future Hall of Famer Candace Parker.

“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could fit three bodies into her one contract and we wanted to bring in three more people,” Hammon said at the time. “I think it’s very obvious (with) who I signed why I made the move.”

Hamby, a 3X3 women’s basketball bronze medalist at the recently concluded Olympics, has twice previously made public claims against the Aces.

The WNBA investigated the matter and in May 2023 suspended Hammon for two games without pay. The club also received a 2025 first-round draft pick for providing impermissible player benefits involving Hamby.

Hamby, however, insisted the league did not go far enough. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September, saying she was discriminated against, and amended her filing in October.

According to the lawsuit, the EEOC ruled in May that she had “right to sue.”

“The WNBA is essentially a workplace, and federal laws have long protected pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace,” Hamby’s attorneys said in a statement. “The World Champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for getting pregnant, and the WNBA responded with a slap on the wrist. Every mom-to-be in the league is now on notice that giving birth could change their career prospects overnight. This cannot be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”

Hamby played for the organization from 2015 to 2022, starting when the Aces were based in San Antonio as the Stars. She was named the league’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and made the All-Star team in three of the last four seasons.

This season, Hamby is averaging 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Hamby’s trial is the latest out-of-court issue for Asi.

They are also being investigated by the WNBA over a two-year sponsorship deal with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in which each player receives $25,000 per month and up to $100,000 per season.

Photo: Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (5) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby defends during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, May 30, 2024, in Chicago. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will step into the spotlight again during All-Star Weekend with their matchup against Team USA. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

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