Three-time WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby has initiated a lawsuit on Monday against the league and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, alleging discrimination and unlawful retaliation related to her pregnancy. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, accuses the Aces of unfair treatment, culminating in her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023 due to her pregnancy.
Hamby’s legal action claims she faced repeated intimidation, discrimination, and retaliation from the Aces, with the suit seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. It asserts that the WNBA failed to address her rights under federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
A WNBA spokesperson confirmed the league is aware of the lawsuit and is currently reviewing the complaint. The Aces, who relocated from San Antonio in 2018, reiterated their commitment to player welfare and maintained their stance from a May 2023 statement, emphasizing their adherence to high professional standards.
Hamby, who played with the Aces from 2015 until her trade in 2023, was part of the team that won a championship in her final season. She signed a two-year contract extension in June 2022, shortly before discovering her pregnancy.
After making her pregnancy public following the championship win in September 2022, Hamby claimed her treatment by Aces staff changed significantly. The lawsuit details a phone conversation in January 2023 in which she was told by head coach Becky Hammon that Hamby was a “question mark” for the upcoming season due to her pregnancy. Hamby asserted her commitment to the team and refuted accusations that she had signed her contract extension while knowingly pregnant.
Despite Hammon’s earlier statements that pregnancy was not a factor in her trade, the lawsuit claims Hamby directly asked if it was the reason for her being traded, to which Hammon’s response provided no denial.
The WNBA investigated Hamby’s allegations, resulting in Hammon’s two-game suspension for violations of workplace policies. The league reportedly stripped the Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick over concerns regarding benefits related to Hamby’s contract, although the specifics of the investigation have not been made public.
Hamby’s attorneys assert that the treatment she received exemplifies a troubling pattern of discrimination against mothers within the league. The WNBA Players Association has expressed that the handling of Hamby’s case failed to uphold the protections established in their Collective Bargaining Agreement for player parents.
Despite the ongoing legal matter, Hamby continues to excel on the court, averaging 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season and earning her third All-Star selection. She recently won a bronze medal with the U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball team and signed an extension with the Sparks through 2025, expressing gratitude for the support she found in her new team.