Basketball player Dearica Hamby, who recently won an Olympic bronze medal, has initiated a federal lawsuit against the WNBA and her previous team, the Las Vegas Aces.
Hamby, a three-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year, claims that the league and her former team discriminated against her and retaliated when she informed them of her pregnancy. This alleged discrimination is said to have led to her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023. The 18-page complaint, filed in a Nevada district court, asserts that the trade was influenced by her announcement of her pregnancy following her contract extension.
Hamby’s legal team argues that the trade inflicted significant damages on her, including lost promotional opportunities, relocation to a less favorable tax situation, and the loss of a chance to compete for a second consecutive WNBA championship title. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, which would be specified during the trial.
While the WNBA did not provide comments on the lawsuit, a spokesperson mentioned that the league is reviewing the complaint. Aces coach Becky Hammon has previously denied Hamby’s allegations, suggesting that the trade was purely a financial decision and had nothing to do with Hamby’s pregnancy.
Earlier in 2023, the WNBA began a formal investigation into Hamby’s claims of discrimination and found that the Aces had violated league rules regarding player benefits. As a result, the league stripped the Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended Hammon for two games without pay for violating workplace policies.
The current lawsuit states that the WNBA’s actions were insufficient in addressing the violation of Hamby’s rights or providing adequate restitution. Her attorneys assert that the league had the authority to cancel her trade but failed to do so. They argue that the lack of significant punitive measures against the Aces sends a message that similar discriminatory actions could occur without consequence.
Hamby gave birth to her son, Legend, in March 2023 and joined the Sparks for training that following month, participating in all regular season games. The Aces went on to win their second consecutive championship without her.
After filing a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the fall of 2023, Hamby received the right to pursue a federal lawsuit in May 2024. Her lawyers claim that the Aces essentially exiled her for becoming pregnant and criticized the WNBA for a lax response.
Hamby’s relationship with the Aces reportedly changed after she disclosed her pregnancy. She experienced challenges regarding team support and agreement on her benefits, leading to an alleged troubling conversation with Coach Hammon where she was questioned about her commitment to the team. Hamby contends that the mistreatment intensified after she voiced her concerns, including being isolated from team activities and events after the trade became public.
The lawsuit points out that such actions against Hamby create a chilling effect for other expecting players in the league. The executive director of the women’s basketball players association emphasized that protections under the collective bargaining agreement should safeguard players from discrimination based on parenthood or pregnancy.